Wishes In The Wind – A Fantastic Sculpture Co-Created at the Minehead Bay Festival
If we do say so ourselves, the Minehead Bay Festival 2024 was a huge success! And one of the highlights was the co-creation of a giant wish pyramid. The pyramid was made from bamboo by local artist Chris Oakey, and adorned with over 300 heartfelt wishes from the local community and visitors alike.
Held on Saturday 31st August, the event drew people to Minehead Beach to take part in the creation of this collaborative art installation, while also enjoying great food, live music and live performances along the seafront.
The wish pyramid was created with the help of festival attendees and led by artist and sculptor Chris Oakey, who built the towering structure on the beach. Participants were invited to write their wishes on colourful hand-painted ribbons, and then tie their wishes to the sculpture while learning techniques to construct a giant bamboo installation.
The project was brought to life with ribbons made from repurposed bed sheets, generously donated by Julian’s Laundry. Before the event, these linen sheets were beautifully decorated by local children adding a special, personal touch to the artwork.
“This project was about community, imagination, and hope,” said Maya Clayden, one of the festival organisers. “Seeing the wishes and dreams of so many people come together in such a powerful way was truly inspiring.”
In the lead-up to the festival, Maya visited various local community groups such as Minehead Carers Group, Minehead Talking Cafe and the local Women’s Institute group to engage attendees and gather wishes to be added to the sculpture.
The Minehead Bay Festival was a day filled with creativity, fun, and magic, offering a unique opportunity for participants to see their hopes and dreams woven into an extraordinary piece of transient public art!
Special thanks go to Julian’s Laundry in Minehead for their fabric donation and to the local children and parents whose colourful designs made the sculpture so vibrant and meaningful.
