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 space in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It's a special place filled with amazing mosaic art. This huge artwork was created by an artist named Isaiah Zagar. The Magic Gardens covers three city blocks! It has indoor art galleries and a big outdoor maze made of mosaics. These mosaics are made from all sorts of recycled things. You can see kitchen tiles, bike wheels, Latin-American art, and even broken china plates! It's open to the public most days, so you can go explore this magical place.
Contents
The Story Behind the Magic Gardens
How the Art Space Began
Isaiah Zagar and his wife, Julia, moved to South Street in 1968. Back then, the city planned to build a big highway through the area. This meant many buildings were empty or falling apart. South Street was not a very lively place at that time.
The Zagars were among the first people to help change this. They opened the Eyes Gallery at 402 South Street. This was the first building Isaiah decorated with his unique mosaics. Today, the Eyes Gallery still shows and sells art from Latin American artists.
Creating the Gardens
After the Eyes Gallery, the Zagars bought and rented other buildings. Isaiah kept creating more mosaic art on these buildings and on public walls. In 1994, he bought the building that is now Philadelphia's Magic Gardens.
Next to his new building were two empty lots. Isaiah put up fences around them to keep out trash and pests. For the next 14 years, he worked on these lots. He slowly turned them into the incredible Magic Gardens you see today.
Saving the Land for Art
In 2002, the owner of the two empty lots wanted to sell them. Property values on South Street were going up. Isaiah and people from the community worked together. They managed to buy the lots, saving them for the art.
With this purchase, "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 Latin America, India, Morocco, and China. He brought back ideas and objects from these trips.
Other famous art sites also influenced his work. These include The Ideal Palace in France and Watts Towers in Los Angeles. You can see these influences in the unique designs of the Magic Gardens.
What You Can See Today
Philadelphia's Magic Gardens covers about 3,000 square feet of mosaic art. The indoor gallery space often features artists from all over the world. Their artwork connects to the Gardens' mission, often including ceramics or mosaics.
The Magic Gardens also offers fun activities for visitors. You can join educational programs, watch performances, or take guided tours. They even have workshops where you can learn to make your own mosaics! Isaiah Zagar continues to create mosaic murals. You can find hundreds of his colorful artworks around the South Street area in Philadelphia.
See also
- In a Dream (film)
- List of public art in Philadelphia
