On Saturday 12th April we unveiled the sculpture of Picasso’s “Boy with a Dove” in Weston Park in front of a good assembly of supporters. Organised by the International Brigades Memorial Trust, Basque Childreen of ’37 Association and Sheffield Trade Union Council, the project to erect a sculpture in Sheffield was designed to recall Pablo Picasso’s historic visit to Sheffield in 1950 for the Second World Peace Conference. Bill Ronksley, former Sheffield TUC Secretary, welcomed Pablo Picasso off the train on his arrival in Sheffield and presented him with a bouquet of flowers. After a few photogrpahs they then requested the bouquet back as it was to be given to someone else!
Sam Morecroft President of Sheffield TUC opened the event and was followed by Dolores Long whose father fought in the Spaniush Civil War. Simon Martinez spoke about the Basque children refugees who were welcomed here in Sheffield. Anthony Padgett the scupltor explained his work and why Picasso’s visit was of such significance. Finally Lord Mayor Cllr. Jayne Dunn unveiled the statue
Pablo Picasso was much more than an artist. He was a communist and a strong supporter of the Republican cause in the fight against Franco’s fascists in the Spanish Civil War. His painting “Guernica” depicts the horror of the bombing of this Republican stronghold by the facists, including German and Italian airplanes. It had to smuggled out of Spain only to return after Franco’s death in 1975. His visit in 1950 therefore had a much stronger resonance than that of merely a world renowned artist. A number of working class men from Sheffield and South Yorkshire went to fight in the Spanish Civil War and most did not return, having laid down their lives for freedom, democracy and socialism. Let’s never forget them. Sheffield also welcomed children refugees from the Basque country and laid the groundwork for Sheffield to become a City of Sanctuary, proud to welcome refugees and asylum seekers and give them a home.
The sculpure was designed and constructed by world renowned artist Anthony Padgett who has worked on other similar statues elsewhere including in Malaga where Picasso was born. We are very grateful to him for donating this work to the people of Sheffield to remind us of our history, the fight against fascism and racism and the struggle for peace and justice.
