Seed firm’s Southgate origins used as artistic inspiration for project celebrating the borough’s industrial history

The artwork by Dan Maier at Southgate Library

A new artwork at Southgate Library has drawn inspiration from a horticultural company that called the area home for 130 years.

Commissioned by Enfield Council as part of the Festival of Industry, Dan Maier’s artwork has created a stained-glass effect on the front of the library which is designed to “bring warmth to the grey streetscape and lift spirits in the area”.

Responding to the community’s desire for a greener Southgate and her own love of plants, Dan decided to take inspiration from Cuthbert’s Seeds, one of the UK’s best known horticultural firms, which was founded in Southgate.

“It was a revelation to discover there was a plant nursery here for over 130 years and that they were the largest horticultural supplier to Woolworths for over 60 years,” she explained.

“Cuthbert’s Nursery spanned the land from the library and sorting office to the station site, until London Transport bought the land to build the iconic Southgate Station in 1933.”

Dan is a firm believer in the positive impact public art can have on people.

“I’m over the moon with the response. Seeing the beaming faces of both library staff and users as they describe how the artwork cheers them up is the ultimate reward.”

Dan has recently been creating artworks for a number of Piccadilly Line stations, including Southgate of course, and was delighted to be asked to create something for another building in the area where her studio is based.

Festival of Industry is a borough-wide cultural and capacity building programme funded by the Arts Council and delivered by Enfield Council.

The festival programme celebrates Enfield’s industrial heritage and explores its future industrial identity through specialist art commissions, participatory workshops, open studios, exhibitions, public artworks, an immersive museum project and family-friendly theatre performances. It runs until the end of the month, with an exhibition currently on display at Dugdale Arts Centre.

To see the full programme of events and activities for the Festival of Industry:
Visit dugdaleartscentre.co.uk/whats-on/festival-of-industry

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