Philadelphia's Magic Gardens
About
Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens is a museum and community arts center that preserves and showcases the work of mosaicist Isaiah Zagar while supporting the arts through public programs and events. Located at the site of Zagar's largest public mosaic installation, the Magic Gardens includes a fully mosaiced indoor gallery and a massive outdoor labyrinthine mosaic sculpture. This enormous permanent installation covers half a city block with myriads of glittering mirror, found objects, and community contributions of ceramics and tiles.
On view during Philagrafika 2010
Fifty Years of Printmaking: Works on Paper by Isaiah Zagar
While best known for his incredible mosaic murals, artist Isaiah Zagar has produced hundreds of etchings and woodcuts throughout his expansive career. These prints are a focal point of the recent award-winning documentary In A Dream by Jeremiah Zagar, the artist’s son. Using spidery linework and both classical and folk art influences, Zagar’s self-portraits and depictions of his wife, children, and family evoke powerful narratives about their triumphs and struggles. The exhibition will even include prints he created during his travels to Peru and India. A Friday evening opening reception with refreshments and a brief artist talk will celebrate the start of the exhibition.
Tell-Tale Tiles & Fractured Fantasies
In partnership with the Tile Heritage Foundation, PMG will host a juried art exhibition of tile and mosaic artworks. Tell-Tale Tiles & Fractured Fantasies is inspired by the rich history of tile and mosaic art in the Philadelphia area over the past 100 years. The call for entry asks artists from around the country to create a panel of narrative tiles to be juried by renowned ceramicist Susan Tunick.
Tell-Tale Tiles & Fractured Fantasies explores contemporary tile making and ceramic mosaic as a story-telling medium in the spirit of artists Henry Chapman Mercer and Isaiah Zagar. The scope of the exhibition includes social, political, personal, and family stories.
This month-long exhibition will be held at Philadelphia's Magic Gardens and will feature two receptions, a special mosaic workshop, and a lecture on Henry Chapman Mercer by the curator Vance Koehler, Curator of Historic Properties at the Moravian Pottery and Tile Works.
"This so-called 'literary' side of the craft, this storytelling... has been my primary impulse or inspiration... But if tiles could tell no story, inspire or teach nobody, and only serve to produce aesthetic thrills, I would have stopped making them long ago."
-Henry Chapman Mercer
Dates
Etchings: Works on Paper by Isaiah Zagar
January 15-March 5
Opening reception and artist talk:
Friday, January 15, 6:00pm to 9:00pm
Tell-Tale Tiles & Fractured Fantasies
March 19-April 19
Opening reception:
Friday, March 19, 6 to 9pm
What’s Your Story? Family book-making activity in collaboration with the Free Library of Philadelphia’s One Book, One Philadelphia:
Sunday, January 31st, 12:00pm - 5:00pm
Zine Machine, Zine-making workshop and presentation in collaboration with the Free Library’s, One Book, One Philadelphia:
Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010, 6:00pm to 9:00pm
NCECA reception:
Thurs April 1, 5 to 8 pm
Venue Information
Philadelphia's Magic Gardens
1020-1024 South St.
Philadelphia, PA 19147
Phone:
(215) 733-0390
Web:
www.philadelphiasmagicgardens.org
Email:
info@philadelphiasmagicgardens.org
Hours:
Mon-Sun 11-6pm
Admission:
Youth: $2
Student: $4
Senior: $4
Adult: $4
Pre-NCECA mosaic workshop fee:
$200 early registration
$250 for registration after March 12, 2010, all participants must pay a $20 materials fee
Transportation:
Philadelphia s Magic Gardens is located between 10th and 11th Streets on South Street. Public Transportation #23 Bus: The 23 goes north on 11th Street, and south on 12th Street. Take it either direction to South Street and then walk east to 1020. Broad Street (Orange) Line: From the Lombard-South stop, walk 4 blocks east down South Street. Market-Frankford (Blue) Line: From the 11th Street stop, walk 8 blocks south to South Street, turn left and walk half a block east. Parking Metered and two-hour parking in the immediate vicinity is available along South and Bainbridge Streets, and along numbered streets. Free untimed parking is available on streets farther south. Several parking garages are located nearby. The closest garages are at 10th and South Streets and at the Whole Foods grocery store, located on South Street between 9th and 10th Streets.
