A new artwork inspired by the community and created using reclaimed paint has been unveiled at Dugdale Arts Centre (DAC) in Enfield Town.
The mural was created by London artist Alec Saunders, using unwanted paint that was dropped off by residents at North London Waste Authority’s (NLWA) eight waste and recycling centres.
Following an open call, Alec was selected out of nearly 50 applications based on his thoughtful proposal for genuine community engagement, experience of sustainable art practices, and visually impactful style.
The final design celebrates the rich and diverse cultures of Enfield, reflecting the unique identities, histories, and communities that make up the borough.
Interwoven into three striking portraits, iconography representing Enfield's proud music legacy, industrial heritage and green spaces can be seen.
The new artwork envelopes a tiered seating area at DAC which is used for children’s activities, arts and craft workshops, film screenings, and some live performances.
The launch event included a Q&A with artists Alec, Leanne Ingram and Chikaora Obiora, who were commissioned with Laura McKendry to create three smaller murals inspired by DAC around the arts centre. Guests also enjoyed a drop-in collage workshop, exhibition displaying artwork by all three artists, and stalls selling local sustainable products.
Alec ran three in-person workshops to actively engage with residents and community groups including pupils from St Anne’s Catholic High School for Girls and young people from Ponders End Youth Centre to ensure the artwork truly resonates with the whole borough.
By using reclaimed paint, the mural is environmentally friendly and will help contribute to the artwork’s sense of connection with the local community, from whom the paint was sourced.
More than 50 million litres of unused paint is wasted each year in the UK – enough to fill 20 Olympic swimming pools – which unnecessarily goes to incineration or landfill when it could easily be used for other projects.
Enfield Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Action and Placemaking at Enfield Council, Cllr Sabri Ozaydin, said: “I was delighted to meet Alec and to officially launch his fantastic artwork at the DAC. His creativity and expertise has made our amphitheatre space brighter and more inviting for visitors and truly represents the diversity and energy of Enfield.
“I would like to thank the North London Waste Authority for providing funding and for donating the reclaimed paint Alec has used to create his magnificent artwork. This was a truly cooperative project that involved local people and schools and at its heart has an important message about reusing and recycling which this Council wholeheartedly supports.”
The project was funded and delivered via the government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) with sponsorship and paint provided for free by the NLWA.
The NLWA has been charting the progress of the mural and community workshops to raise awareness and encouraging Enfield’s residents to recycle their old paint and opt for reclaimed paint instead of buying new.
Chair of NLWA, Clyde Loakes, said: “Seeing discarded paint used in such beautiful artwork shows that you only need a little bit of creativity to make second-hand items look brand new.”
Residents and visitors to the borough are welcome to visit the DAC to see the new artwork. Click here for the opening times and to plan your visit.
Picture credit: Belinda Lawley.