Dreamy Apple Pie

Ever wondered what else you might see or gather at Sutton Manor besides the dream sculpture?

Apple pie made from apples that hang from trees along the peripheries of the site. To make this you will... ...need short pastry roled

out into a pie dish and sugar or honey to sweeten the apples.

masses of spring flowers from the apple trees follow a harsh winter!

Besides the fantastic range of flora there's the edible fruits.Blackberries and Apples!

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Why Evans Concrete are most proud of Dream

http://www.britishprecast.org/podcasts/dream.php

article from http://www.britishprecast.org/

"Jaume Plensa wins 2009 Creativity in Concrete Award for Dream
2nd October 2009
Images (l-r) Jaume Plensa receives his award from Martin Clarke and Garry McBride,...

... He spoke about the inspiration behind Dream and how he came to be involved in the project.

... Garry McBride, Chairman of bespoke precast concrete specialists Evans Concrete, also spoke at the event, explaining how his company turned Dream into reality.

Jaume said “By artists and manufacturers working together they open their minds up to new possibilities and that’s when something succeeds – just like Dream. Ideas without materials simply can’t exist.”

“We are thrilled that Jaume chose concrete for Dream, the first time he has featured our material, and we are delighted to make this award,” said Martin Clarke of British Precast. “Dream stands out, quite literally, this year and is a beacon of optimism for the precast industry as well as for the North West region and the local community. Congratulations also to Evans Concrete, one of our most progressive and exciting member companies, for their dedication and skill.”
Garry McBride added “Dream is probably the finest achievement in the company’s history and it also has to be one of the highlights of my own professional career. The skill and attention to detail that were necessary to design and manufacture the individual pieces of concrete which form this sculpture needed to be of the highest quality. I am proud to say that I believe that we have succeeded in creating an iconic sculpture which will remain as a permanent showcase to our skills and traditions. I am therefore particularly delighted that British Precast has chosen Jaume as the recipient of this special award.”

Man Climbs Scuplture

A local man from Haydock has climbed the Dream without a scratch or climbers bolt.
For the story...
http://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/news/4474224.Bigjobs_loved_Dream_so_much___he_had_to_climb_it/

For more dramatic photos from the top...
http://nwex.co.uk/showthread.php?t=4530

A door in the Dream

Like all good fairy tales there has to be a secret door.So even in the Dream sculpture there is one.But ,where does it lead? is this possibly a door to another world or is it possibly a place for a future electrical connection to a light or skyward beam in the future should the Highways Agency see sense in the idea of having an illuminated sculpture adjacent to their highway,just like a road sign??

Can I see the sculpture as I approach?

The sculpture ("hello it's me Anna,I am not asleep i am dreaming of course"!)reveals itself from many approaches but in the tradition of great landscape design like those of Capability Brown you get glimpses from afar but it becomes hidden as you approach nearer.So there is a sense of 'delight' and 'progressive realisation' as you come closer.

The sculpture can be seen clearly east on the M62 from just west of Warrington Junction 8 and from the west at Junction 7 for St Helens.Glimpses from as far as Winwick west of Junction 9 ,Billinge Hill to the north and the hills behind Frodsham to the south!

What do visitors think!

On Saturday I took a hike up to the top to talk to visitors.In 5 minutes I came across 15 people.More than the average for Sutton Manor.

Residents,dog walkers,sight see-ers and tourists have been coming to see the sculpture from around and about.There even been a freelance photographer from a Shropshire Newspaper
today.

"It's the best thing thats happened around here for ages" Sutton resident and Sutton Manor dogwalkers

"I'm St Helens born and bred.....it's pretty amazing" former Clock Face resident now St Helens

"I've come from Hamburg to see this and it's very impressive" Former St Helens resident and ex miner from the colliery
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cruithneacht/3617142369/in/photostream/

more comments on this great blog: http://needled.wordpress.com/2009/06/07/ex-terra-lucem/#comment-7122

So what is the sculpture made of?

plastic, stone, white chocolate, glue?
no...
http://www.cnplus.co.uk/regional-news/north-west/evans-concrete-casts-dream-sculpture/1995296.article

"there ain't a problem that i can't fix when i got it in the mix"

Ever wondered what those small grey flecks are: well they're not fossils :they are a fibre glass type material that helps bond and strengthen the mix of limestone and concrete.

Weighing in at 373 tonnes it's some Buddha. 8 piles were driven 38 m into the colliery spoil and the plinth is 17m wide.

Read more by clicking onto the photos to enlarge! them....

Press Coverage

Green places magazine Issue 56 June 2009
"Head Turning sculpture shapes horizon of the Northwest"

Local person says sculpture is 'Bonkers'
http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/2m-Dream-Sculpture-In-St-Helens-Is-Bonkers-Say-North-West-Locals/Article/200903415249460

Dizzy Rascal says 'Bonkers'

under construction (pictures)
http://www.culture24.org.uk/art/live+art/public+art/art66988

sculpture complete..well almost!!
http://www.teletext.co.uk/regionalnews/north-west/8e61cdcfbf4c785ce88e960822625550/Dream+sculpture+now+complete.aspx
and pictures
http://www.clickliverpool.com/pictures/galleries/123993-spectacular-dream-sculpture-made-reality-in-merseyside.html#4
daily mail readers
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1172147/Huge-folly-amazing-work-art-Giant-60ft-head-costing-taxpayers-2m-nears-completion.html
BBC report
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8011173.stm
mirror readers speak out
http://blogs.mirror.co.uk/the-ticket/2009/04/art-st-helens-dream-sculpture.html
...as Jaume said men are not that important!

Meet the Artist

The artist Juame Plensa in conversation at a location on Forest Rd near the Dream sculpture in Sutton
More details here;
http://www.visitsthelens.com/site/whats-on/dream-an-icon-for-st-helens-11th-may-p231471

How do I find the Dream sculpture?

"very nice thanks".... grid ref: SJ 521 906 nearest postcode:WA9 4BA

See the map tool http://www.bigartmob.com/bigartmap/5221
click between map and satelite view.Its in the very middle of the greened area west of the central path and east of Jubits Lane.

It's on top of Sutton Manor (former colliery) now a woodland besides the M62 near Sutton.Good pedestrian access is via the enterance opposite the end of Forest Rd at the Jubits Lane mini roundabout.Park on Forest Rd or at the Smithy Arms pub (free) and enter via the side of the colliery's former metal gates.Follow paths on the flat round to the left (north) then right (east)till you meet a path (heading south) and up the middle of the central mound.You will see the sculpture on top of the hill.(its to the left of the diamond shaped path arrangement on the satelite view) About 500m from the enterance.It's really worth the trip!
Local map here!

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=union+bank++lane,st+helens&sll=53.407946,-2.721133&sspn=0.010438,0.02811&ie=UTF8&ll=53.407895,-2.722249&spn=0.010438,0.02811&t=h&z=15&iwloc=A
routefinder here:
http://www.dedicateatree.org/acatalog/SuttonManor_Finder.html

Don't forget to visit the local shops,chippies on and off Forest Rd, along Jubits Lane, or the Smithy Arms.Shops also in the precinct off Chester Lane and Four Acres Lane and Gartons Lane further north .....there's a pie shop too!!

will i get lost? not usually all the routes are pretty much around the hill and come back to your start point.The easiest gradient starts from the side of the Smithy Manor pub but disabled people may wish to access the site through the gate opposite King George V Playing Fields and note that gradients require either motorised vehicles or ablebodied assistance and that sufficient brakes or braking mechanisms to prevent accidents as some slopes are moderately steep and should be approached with caution.

background info here....

Click on images to read enlarge and read text

oy! Watch it! again....
Big Art – Channel 4 on demand!
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-big-art-project/catch-up

http://www.bigartmob.com/view/5268/
check out the Big Art Mobile

and about the artist

http://www.channel4.com/culture/microsites/B/bigart/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaume_Plensa

and the curator

http://www.channel4.com/culture/microsites/B/bigart/about_curators.html

and the community involved

http://www.channel4.com/culture/microsites/B/bigart/latest_news.html#st_helens

Dream Takes Shape

See the dream sculpture taking shape on Sutton Manor St Helens
http://picasaweb.google.com/ChooseYourShadeGreenStreets/Dream09?authkey=Gv1sRgCJGYyZG13MHTrAE#

pictures from Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dandjwalks/3452967887/
much much more here:
http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=dream+sculpture&m=tags&page=2

similar image here!!
http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.virginmedia.com/images/robots-kryten2.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.virginmedia.com/digital/galleries/robots.php%3Fssid%3D14&usg=__PsKO_JFbm0aBErvEh9l1Nk49vZw=&h=300&w=431&sz=33&hl=en&start=2&tbnid=4ZFin-k3E794hM:&tbnh=88&tbnw=126&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dkryten%2Bred%2Bdwarf%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1T4DMUK_en-GBGB227GB227
..oh really!? in your dreams earthling

more from The Liverpool Biennial' site about Dream
http://www.biennial.com/content/LiverpoolBiennial2008/Dream/Overview.aspx

good photo here;
http://www.artinliverpool.com/blog/2009/04/st-helens-dream/

another head sculpture:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/34539943@N05/3717096884/in/photostream/