WATCH: Forgotten Dudley street at he-art of mosaic
A piece of public artwork which brings a forgotten Dudley street to light has been unveiled.
The mosaic imagines a view of the buildings of an old street - Middle Row - which once occupied part of the town's marketplace.
Using more than 6,000 hand-cut and shaped tiles, the design draws viewers into the piece as they look over the shoulder of the archaeologist into the foundations of the dig.
The new piece, which was designed by borough artist Steve Field, is located in the central route between the town's market stalls - under a covered glass arcade.
Councillor Khurshid Ahmed, cabinet member for planning and regeneration, said: "It's fitting that the mosaic remembers the busy and vibrant Middle Row, just as the ongoing regeneration of the market place brings more business to the town centre today.
"The bright and engaging design of this artwork draws people into the image and the mosaic will no doubt become a favourite piece of public art for local people."
The mosaic depicts an imaginary view into the archaeological excavations that took place in 2014 when the foundations for the Market Mall were about to be built.
It features not only the street foundations but also the archaeologist, Kate Griffiths, complete with her trowel and distinctive jewellery seated inside an imagined view of an old well that was discovered during the dig.
Alongside the Middle Row buildings are depicted some of her Victorian archaeological finds - including ceramic bottles of Warren's Liquid Blacking, oyster shells, a plentiful and cheap fast food of the time and disposable clay pipes.
After making the design, Mr Field drew the perspective illusion out full size in his Himley Hall studio.
He worked with two other artists, Helen Sweeting and Richard Ellis, to create the mosaic.
The floor mosaic forms the centrepiece of the bright new glazed Market Mall and was installed on February 28.
