What an inspiring and joyfully messy day we had working with CITYarts, Inc. at General Grant National Memorial in New York City! Art Peritus was there to help conserve a true community treasure: the Mosaic Rolling Bench, a 400-foot-long stretch of dazzling mosaic tiles that wraps around Grant’s Tomb—originally created between 1972–1974 by artist Pedro Silva with the help of thousands of volunteers.

This isn’t just public art—it’s a vibrant, folk-art masterpiece filled with animals, people, local scenes, and symbols of peace, play, and President Grant himself. CITYarts has lovingly led restoration efforts for decades, and we were honored to join them in preserving this New York landmark.

The day had us fully immersed—literally. We chose our own tile colors and designs, carefully filling in missing areas or creating something entirely new. We tested our strength with the tile nippers, and found unexpected therapy in wielding hammers and chisels to remove damaged sections. Let’s just say mosaic conservation is the most constructive way I’ve ever taken out my frustrations!

Huge thanks to the CITYarts team, Lindsay Daniels our artist leader, and the Appraisers Association of America for helping the Art Peritus team pull together an amazing group of fellow volunteers who made the day so memorable. It was humbling, creative, and honestly a whole lot of fun— and we have the chipped manicures to prove it!

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