A celebration of Leeds in the heart of the city
SIR – I was interested in Rosa Silverman’s article on culture in Leeds (Features, January 7), and would add to her list the iconic mural, Cornucopia, close to the Corn Exchange in the city centre. It was painted in 1990 by the late Yorkshire artist and muralist Graeme Willson.
At the time, the Victorian Corn Exchange was being refurbished and the architects commissioned Willson to produce a piece of public art to enhance the area. The mural is a celebration of the history of this particular part of Leeds.
It features historical and modern figures, along with images of nearby architecture, such as the distinctive elliptical Corn Exchange roof.
Willson was awarded the Leeds Award for Architecture and the Environment for this artwork. Two goddesses dominate: Ceres, goddess of agriculture, and Arachne, goddess of weaving – a reference to the textile industry of Victorian Leeds.
Cornucopia is a five-minute walk from Leeds station and is like having a little piece of Florence in Leeds city centre.
Rosemary Micklethwaite Leeds, West Yorkshire