Mosaics From Millers River Apartments Being Restored

Cambridge Arts is restoring 102 mosaics in 20 groupings from Cambridge’s Millers River Apartments as part of the renovation and expansion of the 19-story-tall Cambridge Housing Authority complex at 15 Lambert St.

The public artworks of trees and houses and suns were crafted in 1979 by Lilli Ann Rosenberg, who was known for enlisting community members—especially children—in the creation of her artworks. Clay pieces in the Millers River mosaic murals were made by residents of the apartments as well as children from the then Kennedy, Harrington, Agassiz and Webster schools.

Conservator Greg Curci, who has been contracted by Cambridge Arts to restore the artworks, removed the last mosaics this summer to take them to his Winthrop studio, where he's now restoring the mosaic murals to preserve these community treasures for the future.

Rosenberg, who died in 2011 at age 86, was a prolific artist who also created public artworks at Cambridge’s Central Square branch library, Edward Alden Park, and Haggerty School. She also created public pieces for the MBTA’s Park Street station in Boston, the plaza at the Villa Victoria community housing in Boston, and the Tadpole Playground on Boston Common.