Philadelphia's Magic Gardens facts for kids
Courtyard in the Magic Gardens in October 2008
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| Location | 1020 South St Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19147, U.S. |
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| Founder | Isaiah Zagar |
Philadelphia's Magic Gardens is a super cool art place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on South Street. It's a special kind of art environment and gallery. This amazing place is the biggest artwork ever made by a mosaic artist named Isaiah Zagar. The Magic Gardens covers three city lots and has indoor art spaces plus a huge outdoor maze made of mosaics. These mosaics are created from all sorts of things, like kitchen tiles, bike wheels, art from Latin America, and even broken china plates! You can visit the Magic Gardens from Wednesday to Monday, 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM. It's closed on Tuesdays.
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The Story Behind the Gardens
Isaiah Zagar and his wife, Julia, moved to South Street in 1968. Back then, the city planned to tear down many buildings in the area. They wanted to build a big highway called the Crosstown Expressway. Because of this plan, the area felt empty and a bit unsafe.
The Zagars were among the first people to move there and help make the area better. They opened a shop called the Eye's Gallery at 402 South Street. This was the first building Isaiah decorated with his unique mosaics. The gallery still shows and sells art from Latin American artists today.
Creating the Magic
After the Eye's Gallery, the Zagars bought and rented out more buildings. Isaiah continued to create many other mosaic art spaces and public murals. In 1994, he bought the building that is now Philadelphia's Magic Gardens. He also fenced off the two empty lots next door. He did this to keep out trash and pests.
Over the next fourteen years, Isaiah worked hard to create the Magic Gardens. In 2002, the owner of the two empty lots wanted to sell them. Property values on South Street were going up. Isaiah, along with people from the community, worked together to buy the lots. This is how "Philadelphia's Magic Gardens" officially began! It opened to the public in 2008. The goal was to inspire creativity and bring people together.
Art from Around the World
Much of the art in the Magic Gardens was inspired by Isaiah Zagar's travels. He visited many countries, including places in Latin America, India, Morocco, Iran, China, and Indonesia. He brought back ideas and objects from these trips.
Other famous art places around the world also influenced his work. These include The Ideal Palace in France, Watts Towers in Los Angeles, The Rock Garden in India, and Las Pozas in Mexico. You can see these influences in the Garden's amazing designs.
What You Can See and Do Today
Philadelphia's Magic Gardens has about 3,000 square feet of mosaic art. That's a lot of sparkle! The indoor gallery space often features artists from all over the world. Their artwork connects to the Gardens' mission. You might see ceramics, mosaics, or "outsider" art. "Outsider art" is made by artists who haven't had formal art training.
The Magic Gardens also offers fun activities. They have educational programs, performances, tours, and workshops where you can learn to make your own mosaics. All these activities are open to everyone. Isaiah Zagar still creates mosaic murals on the streets of Philadelphia. You can find hundreds of his artworks in and around the South Street area.
More to Explore
- In a Dream, a movie about Isaiah Zagar made by his son
- List of public art in Philadelphia
