Explore Philadelphia's Magic Gardens
1020 South Street, Philadelphia
Tour A: Thursday, April 18th at 11 am
TTN members: $20 Non-member guests of TTN members: $28
Note: We are offering two identical tours (at 11 am and 2 pm).
Join us for a tour of Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens. This unique and quintessentially Philly site is dedicated to the art of Isaiah Zagar, filled with mosaics using tiles, mirrors, bottles, folk art, and other materials. Zagar’s mosaics can be found all around the South Street neighborhood surrounding the museum. Since the 1960s Isaiah Zagar has dedicated himself to revitalizing the area through his colorful mosaics displayed on both private and public buildings.
Explore the glittering mosaics of Isaiah Zagar at Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens and in the surrounding blocks. A knowledgeable educator will lead us on a 75 minute guided tour. The experience includes the outdoor sculpture garden, indoor galleries, several public murals, and the fully-mosaicked basement, which is not normally open to the public. Learn about the history of the artist and neighborhood, the process for creating the mosaics, and the many types of tiles and materials found in them.
Though widely known for his large-scale public mosaics, Isaiah Zagar’s staggering collection of creations includes thousands of drawings, paintings, prints, and mixed-media works. On view during our tour, we will view Ritual of Self: Isaiah Zagar’s Self-Portraits on Paper, a revelatory selection of never-before-seen mixed-media artworks.
Two separate guided tours will be conducted at 11 am and 2 pm. Between tours there will be an option to gather for lunch nearby.
Note: Both the basement and outdoor sculpture garden have narrow passageways and stairways that are not equipped with ramps or elevators. In addition, in the event of bad weather there will still be a tour, however some may choose not to go on the outside portion, as the tile can be slippery.
Cancellation deadline is 4/11/24. Should you need to cancel prior to this date, you will be issued a credit to your TTN account to be used for future purchases.