#philadelphiasmagicgardens

[thetarotman]

(via https://youtube.com/watch?v=z2wb7rkSA_w&feature=share)

[scenefromthesidewalk]

August 10, 2017

“BILAL FROM PAKISTAN”

by Isaiah Zagar

Shortly after graduating from New York’s Pratt Institute at only 19, Zagar and his wife Julia joined the Peace Corp and spent three years in Peru. Landing in Philadelphia shortly after their return, the couple dedicated themselves to creating public art and fostering creativity, but continued to travel and maintain a global perspective. Zagar completed residencies in China and India and his mosaic work was often influenced by his travels and personal connections, as with his 39-foot mosaic dedicated to Bilal from Pakistan. Dedicated to beautifying Philadelphia’s South Street neighborhood for the last 50 years, this 2013 wall on Clifton St. is just steps from Zagar’s most famous work, Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens—the half-block project he began in 1994 on the vacant lots near his South St. studio, that has since been turned into a non-profit art museum and gallery.  @isaiahzagar  @phillymagicgardens  

[primalaska]

#philadelphiaorchestra #philadelphiahairstylist #philadelphiarealtor #philadelphiamua #philadelphiaweddingphotography #philadelphiasixers #philadelphiasbfashionweek #PhiladelphiasMagicGardens #philadelphiaroll #philadelphiafashionweek #philadelphiaflowershow #philadelphiatattooconvention #philadelphiacakes #philadelphiabride #philadelphiaskyline #PhiladelphiaHipHop #philadelphiainteriordesign #philadelphiahomes #philadelphiaweddings #philadelphiagraff #philadelphiamft #philadelphiastyle #philadelphiadesign #philadelphiarealestateagent #philadelphiabaker #philadelphiaeaglesjerseys #philadelphiaflorist #philadelphiaart #philadelphiafitness #philadelphianailtech https://www.instagram.com/p/B1TaQPFnBLR/?igshid=wuq7edhihbiz

[sunnypsyopx]

My forever #mcm is @droogy666 💙💜 #mancrushmonday #mancrusheveryday #philly #phillybirthdayextravaganza #philadelphiasmagicgardens #philadelphiainsectarium #pennmuseum #phillyseaport #mermaid #crystalball #butterflypavillion #truehappiness #seanstone #oifriend #favoritecreep #malchick #bestfriend #iloveaskinhead #luckiestgirlintheworld #loveyourlife

[lindacelestian]

Hiking in Philly and had to stop to admire Isaiah Zagar's beautiful work at #philadelphiasmagicgardens #isaiahzagar #mosaics #philly #urbanadventures (at Philadelphia's Magic Gardens)

[chelaxadventures]

Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens is unlike anything I’ve ever seen before! The sheer idea of someone creating all that by hand is hard to fathom. Created by mosaic artist @isaiahzagar the space spans three city lots, and includes indoor galleries and a large outdoor labyrinth. #chelaxadventures #travelwithchelax #bookwithchelax #relaxwithchelax #cruisewithchelax #chelax #travel #traveltheworld #explore #adventure #seetheworld #discover #authentictravel #experience #makememories #stateside #travelagent #travelexpert #art #mosaicart #isaiahzagar #magicgardens #philly #philadelphiasmagicgardens #visitphilly (at Philadelphia's Magic Gardens) https://www.instagram.com/p/ByMMz0XnwQl/?igshid=1ay0b4kaaq8d3

[resilientgypsy-blog]

Just a Gypsy in a land of Magic Gardens 🔮 #travel #travelblog #travelblogger #resilientgypsy #blogger #blog #traveller #travelphotography #traveling #followme #adventure #momboss #wanderlust #destination #traveldiaries #travels #travelersnotebook #travelguide #traveller #travelgram #igtravel #travelbug #philly #philadelphia #magicgardens #philadelphiasmagicgardens #art #artistsoninstagram #artsy #artist #artwork #arts #streetart #visualart #artofvisuals #artofvisuals #artistic #art🎨 #contemporaryart (at Philadelphia's Magic Gardens)

[pinkfrognyc]

This mosaic heaven #fusterlandia @fusterlandia #by #josefuster in Havana, Cuba reminded us of the Philly's Magic Gardens by Isaiah Zagar. #philadelphiasmagicgardens @phillymagicgardens @isaiahzagar #isaiahzagar #morningwednesday #flashback #stunning #mosaicart #mosaictile #ceramics #engraving #havana #cuba www.pinkFROGnyc.com #pinkfrognyc #art #illustration #drawing #design #fingerpainting #dtgprinting graphicandproductdesign garmentprinting #tee sweatshirt hoodie kiddress youth toddler babyonesie handmade iphonecase tote prints #love #passion #wedesign #weprint #wearenewyork #wearepinkfrog madeinnyc travel #tourist newyorktrip newyorkbaby #travelaroundworld (at Fusterlandia (Jose Fuster) Art Gallery) https://www.instagram.com/p/BowfOfElPY8/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=sj3zpruse65w

[phillymagicgardens]

Patterns of Obsession: Claes Gabriel & Andrew Chalfen

Patterning is a common language that can be found in almost every culture and artistic practice. Artists have used patterns to reflect the natural rhythms of the universe or to represent the heritage of their own community. Textile, folk art, and architecture are all examples of how patterning can be used to communicate with the viewer. For instance, looking up at the intricate tile patterning of a mosque emphasizes the building’s purpose of creating an all-encompassing spiritual presence.

Patterning can be both meditative and obsessive. Isaiah Zagar’s mosaic patterning in Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens is a combination of passion and therapy which evolved into an extraordinary art environment.  

Claes Gabriel and Andrew Chalfen also have unique approaches to patterning. Gabriel’s practice celebrates the divine through color and pattern. Chalfen attempts to understand the world around him by investigating natural and manmade patterns. Although different in style, both Gabriel’s and Chalfen’s designs share important personal messages about the human experience.

[sunnypsyopx]

It was hard to choose which photos to use from Philadelphia's Magic Gardens, but here's some of my favorites. #philadelphiasmagicgardens #isaiahzagar #mosaic #folkart #art #southstreet #philly #phillybirthdayextravaganza #iloveartandimakeit

[coffeeonaplane]

"If the doors of perception were cleansed, everything would appear to man as it is: infinite." ~ William Blake #WednesdayWisdom #WednesdayMotivation #WednesdayMood #Throwback #Quotes #WilliamBlake #OpenDoors #Infinite #Travel #Wanderlust #Location #destination #Views #Philadelphia #Pennsylvania #PhiladelphiasMagicGardens #MagicGarden #Art #Mosaic #Colors #Magic #Beautiful #InstaLove #TravelPhotography #PhotoOfTheDay #SecretGarden #Imagination #NoFilter #CoffeeOnAPlane (at Philadelphia's Magic Gardens) https://www.instagram.com/p/B4iCZqhBZFz/?igshid=11sjhd59oitm5

[phillymagicgardens]

Outsider Inspirations

Simon Rodia’s Watt’s Towers

Sabato “Simon” Rodia (1879 – 1965) emigrated from Italy to the United States when he was fourteen years old and eventually settled in California where he worked in masonry and construction. Beginning in 1921, Rodia spent three decades building seventeen structures made of steel and mortar and mosaicked them in glass, tile, and seashells. Rodia constructed all the towers without machinery; the tallest among them is 99 ½ feet tall.

In 1956, the City of Los Angeles considered the space to be a hazard and ordered for it to be destroyed. A committee of actors, architects, artists, and engineers purchased the property and negotiated with the city to preserve the work. The committee operated the Towers independently until 1975, when the City of Los Angeles, and later the State of California, assisted in the preservation as the site became famous. Currently, the Watts Towers are under the care of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA).

Isaiah Zagar visited Watts Towers in 1987.

“Outsider Inspirations: The Influence of Art Environments on Isaiah Zagar” is on view at Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens until August 26, 2018.

[phillymagicgardens]

Outsider Inspirations: The Influence of Art Environments on Isaiah Zagar

WHAT ARE ART ENVIRONMENTS? Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens defines art environments as permanent large scale artworks that encompass an entire space and surround the viewer. Their creators often have no formal art training and use unusual materials to elaborately embellish their environments. Their work represents their extreme individualism and is influenced by personal experiences or mythologies. The artists’ devotion to their creations is often all-consuming and spans years or decades.

Oftentimes art environments are built on personal property, forgotten land, or in areas that were not meant to be creative sites. Although these spaces allow for numerous possibilities for artists to create their work, community misunderstanding or the inability for the artists to caretake their sites leaves these imaginative structures difficult to protect and conserve.

WHY ARE ART ENVIRONMENTS SO SPECIAL?

Why should we be striving, now more than ever, to be more curious, more unique? Creative spaces remind us there is beauty in the world, and they encourage us to generate more beauty. They offer an overwhelming sense of wonder and awe. They embolden us to think more deeply, connect with each other, and care.

The art environments featured in this exhibition illustrate unfiltered expression and unconventional thinking. These spaces challenged Isaiah Zagar’s own concepts of what art could be and inspired him to create an art environment of his own. Throughout Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens are the names of these artists and their environments, and the artwork in this exhibition by Isaiah further celebrates these spaces and how influential they still are to him.

“You’ll see not only joy, but sadness, anger – It’s not just eye candy; it’s all the emotions one could possibly have.”

– Isaiah Zagar on Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens

Photos:  -“My Mirrored Hope,” Art Environment by Clarence Schmidt  -“Clarence Schmidt and his Silver Forest” by Isaiah Zagar

“Outsider Inspirations” is on view from July 13 - August 26, 2018 at Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens

[phillymagicgardens]

Mural on Clifton Street, Philadelphia

[phillymagicgardens]

“The statement ‘More is always better’ was taken from a magazine advertisement and for me it is the motif of consumerism. It is a phrase without consideration of health, planetary resources, or inequality. It is a war and weapons approach to society to obtain all that is wanted by its members.

A society that consumes can’t keep its standard of living for long and will always need other countries, people, or resources to spoil. The consuming country is left with very little. It ends up feeling the need to use guns and create walls to defend itself.” -Ornella Ridone

“Allá Abajo/ Down Below: A Reaction to Our Times by Ornella Ridone” On view at Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens until July 8, 2018