City Carpet, Sidewalk mosaic near Old City Hall in Boston, United States.
City Carpet is a sidewalk mosaic made of ceramic, bronze, stone, brick, and concrete near Old City Hall in Boston. The 25-foot square artwork is composed of patterns depicting traditional children's games.
The artwork was created in 1983 by artist Lilli Ann Killen Rosenberg and honors Boston Latin School, founded in 1635 as the first public school in the United States. The institution shaped and inspired generations of students.
The mosaic displays traditional children's games such as hopscotch, kite flying, rope jumping, and marbles that visitors can still recognize in the pavement patterns today. These images tell of a childhood that looked similar across generations.
The mosaic is located outdoors on the pavement and is easily accessible when visiting Old City Hall nearby. The best time to view it is in daylight, when the details and colors of the different materials are most visible.
The artwork features names of famous Boston Latin School graduates like Benjamin Franklin, Samuel Adams, and Ralph Waldo Emerson inscribed in bronze plaques set into the mosaic surface. These details are easy to miss but connect the installation to notable American figures.
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