My favorite artists are ones that find their passion and pursue it, with no thought to commercialism, or the sale. The thing that is shunned by the neighbors, until they realize you aren’t a crazy old coot, you have a vision and it is just different.
Well I found one of those in Philadelphia. His name is Isaiah Zargar. His work looks like that of an educated artist, and he is, having graduated from Pratt Institute in NYC. While a young 19 year old he discovered the folk art of Clarence Schmidt which definitely inspired his work.
In 1994, Zagar started work in the vacant lots located near his studio. After tiling the adjacent property (which is the photo above) The vacant lots became “Magic Gardens” at 1020 South Street in Philadelphia. He constructed a massive fence to protect the area and then spent the next 12 years excavating tunnels and grottoes, sculpting multi-layered walls and tiling and grouting the 3,000 square foot space. In 2002, the actual property owner wanted to sell the property, the community came together and incorporated as a non-profit to promote and preserve this wonderful slice of heaven.
There are wonderful sayings all over the place including: “I built this sanctuary to be inhabited by my ideas and my fantasies.” Another says, “Remember walking around in this work of fiction.” The top photo has a saying running through it “Art is the Center of the World.” I could put up 100 pictures, and it wouldn’t be enough. To say nothing of the fact that he has created over 130 other murals scattered throughout the South Street Area. If you get a chance to visit Philadelphia, get off the beaten path and go see the “Magical Gardens”.
What a fantastic place! – thanks for sharing it with us.
Incredible vision! What a amazing project — it does look magical. Okay, another place to visit on my list. Grazie, Principessa!
Reminds me a bit of Watts Towers.
Thank you for visiting and leaving your kind comment. You sure get around, and to the most interesting places! I love the art in this post, I bet every piece of this mosaic could tell a story!
This is one place that I am really planning to see one day!
Very interesting and beautiful pictures. LG Tina
OMG what a fabulous find. I love street art and this takes it entirely to a new level. I’d love to see this place.
BTW…love the name of your blog.
I love your interpretation! Definitely a different world. Oh, how I would love to explore this place! Thanks for sharing just a bit of it in these images and for linking in to Exploring with a Camera!
Amazing!! You could spend hours looking at these shots! You must have had a wonderful time exploring his art!
Art from the trash! beautiful photos!
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