Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens: An Eccentric Patchwork Marvel Created by Isaiah Zagar
Transmission 116: Interview with Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens
It could be a quiet autumn afternoon when, with a friend, you find yourselves wandering through the neighborhoods of Philadelphia. Perhaps you’re planning a visit to reconnect with college friends, or maybe you’ve seen a TV series about the city, sparking thoughts of curious and amusing experiences. Perhaps, while asking for directions to a museum, an enthusiastic local with a penchant for oddities directed you to an extraordinary place: Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens, a creation of a certain Mr. Isaiah Zagar. The name might not ring a bell, but the images linger in your mind. You feel a sense of déjà vu!
At first, someone might wonder, “What can one possibly expect from a place with such a name? Is it just marketing?” But then—wow! Imagine an entire building, or rather, a garden made of mosaic, sprawling and twisting with broken mirrors, iridescent tiles, fractured pottery, and a dazzling assortment of colored glass. Stairs spiral unexpectedly, leading to alcoves filled with intricate sculptures. Fanciful arches and towering columns seem almost alive, shimmering in hues of blue, green, and purple under the dappled light. Mr. Zagar does not abandon beauty until it is no longer recognizable. In his gardens, he has gathered not only forgotten fragments of things but also forgotten pieces of ourselves.
Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens‘ official site, Facebook and Instagram
Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens respectfully recognizes that it is located on the ancestral homeland of the Lenape.
What challenges did Isaiah and Julia Zagar face when they first moved to South Street? How did their arrival in 1968 contribute to the revitalization of an area once slated for demolition? How did they overcome obstacles to create a thriving artistic space?
In the 1960s Isaiah and Julia spent years serving in the Peace Corps in Peru. When they moved back to Philadelphia they experienced culture shock and also some hostility towards their “hippie” appearances. After shortly living in the Germantown neighborhood, they moved to South Street to take advantage of the affordable housing there. The street was slated for demolition by the city to put in a highway known as the Crosstown Expressway. After dealing with a mental health crisis, Isaiah started to experiment with making mosaics as a form of therapy. The couple helped spur the revitalization of the area by renovating derelict buildings and adding colorful mosaics on both private and public walls. The Zagars, teamed with other artists and activists, transformed the neighborhood into a prosperous artistic haven and successfully led protests against the Crosstown Expressway. This period of artistic rebirth was coined the “South Street Renaissance.” After the street was saved, Zagar continued creating mosaic murals, resulting in hundreds of public artworks over the next five decades.
Is no mere arrangement of broken and damaged objects or deliberate chaos; it is an ordered disorder, a masterful manipulation of form and space. Each curve and corner whispers of careful design. Isaiah Zagar is a man driven by purpose, and a desire to leave his mark on this city
Can you draw us to the process Isaiah Zagar uses to select and integrate the diverse materials found in his mosaics, such as kitchen tiles, bike wheels, and china plates?
Many of the materials Isaiah used in his mosaics are donated items. If people were remodeling their bathrooms or kitchens and had extra tile they’d gift them to Isaiah to include in his work, or if they had plates or bowls that are broken or unused they’d donate them as well. The bicycle wheels were donated by Via Bicycle, a local bike shop, and many of the bottles were collected from recycling bins. Isaiah loved to use materials that were readily available and wasn’t picky when selecting items to use in his work. The sculptures and carvings often seen in his work are pieces of Folk Art that were typically purchased to sell at his wife, Julia’s, shop, the Eye’s Gallery. If the pieces get broken in shipment Isaiah would incorporate them into his work.
Jason Segel, the creator and star of the American drama television series Dispatches from Elsewhere, claimed that he decided to film in Philadelphia because, during site scouting, he was taken aback by the city’s abundance of vibrant public art; he claimed that the first time he saw the Magic Gardens, he knew Philadelphia was the ideal place for the show
How does he incorporate elements of Latin-American art into his mosaics, and what significance do these elements hold for him?
As mentioned above, these items were collected from various Folk Artists, primarily from Mexico. Folk Art has always been part of the story of Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens. Isaiah Zagar and his wife Julia first connected with folk artists in the 1960s when they worked in Peru as Peace Corps volunteers. Their love for Folk Art grew as they purchased works from around the world for the Eye’s Gallery. The objects at PMG are often pieces that broke and could not be sold. Many are special collaborative commissions between Isaiah and the Folk Artist. If Isaiah admires the work of an artist he will leave drawings with them to interpret in their own style. These partnerships sometimes continue for years and result in hundreds of unique pieces that are installed at PMG.
The majority of the folk art at PMG is Mexican, since the Zagars fostered so many friendships there over the past five decades. However, there are also folk art pieces from many other countries they have visited. Works from India, Peru, Ecuador, Morocco, Indonesia, and Guatemala can all be found in the space.
Isaiah Zagar found magic in every discarded fragment and chose to grant them new life.
In what ways nowadays Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens influence the local community and the broader artistic landscape of Philadelphia? How does the Magic Gardens reflect the cultural and historical context of Philadelphia in the late 20th century?
Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens is proud to provide opportunities for the general public to be inspired by Isaiah Zagar’s work and access their creativity with our tours, outreach programs, events, and hands-on art activities. We also host rotating temporary art exhibitions in our indoor galleries, showing the work of both local and international artists.
Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens’ preservation team continues to work with Isaiah Zagar to both preserve and repair current mosaics as well as install new mosaic murals in the community.
What legacy do Isaiah Zagar hope to leave behind through their work at Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens?
Isaiah hopes that the space will continue to speak to generations to come. He recognizes that it’s now time for the young artists to step up and have their moment in the spotlight. He hopes that they’ll be inspired by his work and take that inspiration and run with it in their own way.
The Zagars have been such an integral part of the South Street community for over fifty years, and the murals stand as a testament not only to their creativity but also their devotion to their neighborhood.
There is a curious energy in Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens, since it is an experience. People can move through a dreamscape, each piece – a broken teacup here, a bottle cap there – whispering stories in voices only barely within reach.
What are some of the most surprising or unique pieces within the Magic Gardens that visitors might overlook? How do visitors typically respond to the eclectic and immersive environment of the site?
We always encourage our visitors to slow down and really look at all the details in the space. It can be easy to be overwhelmed with the big picture, but if you take the time to take a closer look you’ll notice so many elements that could easily be overlooked. There are so many tiles, pieces of Folk Art, bits of ceramics, that all are visually interesting and play a role in the composition of the space. Most of our visitors understand that, and they’ll walk through the museum multiple times and notice new things with every pass.
How does Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens engage with the local community, particularly in terms of educational programs and collaborative projects?
Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens (PMG) frequently does outreach in our community at schools, street festivals, libraries and more. We also partner with various organizations to provide them with tours and hands-on activities. For example, we partner with Ready, Willing, and Able, a local organization that works with men who have experienced homelessness, incarceration or addiction. With them we come to their center to provide hands-on workshops.
It’s the mosaic wonderland, its jewel-like fragments glittering in the late afternoon sun, could be a sight that would haunt visitors, a beautiful, fantastical memory; as if, in that tangle of color and light, Isaiah Zagar had forged a spell to draw all ever back.
What unique aspects of Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens distinguish it from other art spaces and galleries in the city and beyond? How does Isaiah Zagar’s work at Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens compare to other famous mosaic artists and folk art environments around the world?
PMG is unique because we offer a different experience than a typical white-walled gallery or stuffy museum space. We strive to be approachable, welcoming, and encourage our visitors to explore and discover something new. Many visitors who come to us are not regular museum-goers, but are looking for something special to do in Philadelphia.
The space is also uniquely Philadelphian. It’s hard to believe that it could have been created in another city. We’re lucky that the community has been so supportive and not only have championed Isaiah’s work but have also defended it against demolition on more than one occasion.
Many people draw parallels between Isaiah Zagar’s work and that of Antoni Gaudi in Spain. Isaiah drew inspiration from Gaudi’s work but recognizes that Gaudi is more of an architect, while Zagar is more of a decorator. However, in scope of work Zagar gives Gaudi a run for his money, having completed over 200 mosaic murals in Philadelphia alone.
Special thanks to Allison Boyle
Photos courtesy of Isaiah Zagar and Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens
Ciao! My name is Dominique. I’m Italian and I’m proud to be a mix. My father was an Italian chemical engineer and high school teacher, with Greek and Polish heritage. My mother is Haitian, she was high school language teacher, with Dominican, Spanish, French, Portuguese, African and Native American heritage. Being a mix makes me appreciate to want to understand different cultures and lifestyles. I grew up in Italy, lived few years in Haiti, travel around main European capitals, lived many years in China, in Spain and UK. Traveling makes me feel that we can learn something from every situation in every part of the world.
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