Photo Credit: Urban 75
It takes a special kind of person to take an abandoned urban lot and transform it into a thing of beauty. In 1968, Isaiah Zagar and his wife moved to Philadelphia from Peru, where they had just spent three years in the Peace Corps. Inspired by the art of South America , Zagar began creating folk art all around his new city. One of his most stunning accomplishments was to take an entire rowhouse on South Street and cover it inside-out and top-to-bottom with beautiful mosaics that included shimmering pieces of mirror and lines of his own poetic reflections. He then turned to the abandoned lot beside it and began transforming that as well.
On this week’s episode, we were given a personal tour by Ellen Owns, executive director of Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens, the nonprofit created to preserve and share Zagar’s creations. She told us about the artist himself, where Philadelphians can find his creations and how his work changed the neighborhood around it. To learn more about Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens, visit their website or follow them on Twitter.
Magic City Garden is a magical place, both in Zagar’s art and the space that it covers. Any age could enjoy visiting the garden! Thanks for the additional interesting history, Talkadelphia.
You’re welcome!
This is one of the many things I love about South Street. It’s like stepping into a new world.