News/Upcoming Events
- Summer Walking Tours
April through September
Saturdays 12:00pm and 4:00pm; Sundays 4:00pm
Enjoy an hour-long guided walk through South Philadelphia's side streets to view Isaiah Zagar's glittering creations! Led by a trained Philadelphia's Magic Gardens interpreter, you'll learn detailed information about Zagar's technique along with the personal and community stories depicted in his large, shimmering murals.
Walking tours are $10 for adults, $6 for children, and student group prices are available when scheduled in advance. Tour price includes all-day admission to PMG.
- Instructional video for sale
Monumental Mosaics: The Isaiah Zagar Method is now for sale at Philadelphia's Magic Gardens and online. This step-by-step instructional video will teach you how to build a mosaic mural, from start to finish, using the method of renowned mosaicist Isaiah Zagar. From gathering the proper materials to polishing the finished product, this video will introduce you to the mosaic medium and prepare you to undertake a project of your own.
To order your copy today, please click here. - Arts on South
July 23, 2010 - September 15, 2010
6:00pmPMG has been selected to organize the second series of Arts on South, a program that loans unrented retail stores to local artists to showcase their artworks. In collaboration with the South Street Head House District, Arts on South will be revitalized, offering four gallery spaces that feature professional art exhibitions, completed by mid-July.
The first gallery participants are Dumpster Divers, Green Light Arts, HomeSkooled Gallery, and the Philadelphia Center for the Book. These collectives will exhibit a variety of artistic genres including sculpture, printmaking, painting, installation, photography, book arts, new media, and performance. Be sure to visit the "Fourth Friday" receptions and events on July 23!
PMG
will partner with twelve students from the Philadelphia Youth Network (PYN) to
create the exciting new youth program, ArtWorks, to foster creative economy and civic engagement through Arts on South. The students will
assist in the daily management of the galleries, receive
lectures by arts professionals, and interact with local artists.
- Little Known Travel
Watch this beautiful video of Alexa Sita from Little Known Philadelphia exploring our magical sculpture labyrinth!
http://http://www.alexasita.com/Site/Philadelphia-Magic_Gardens.html - Man of Mystery
September 3, 2010 - September 6, 2010Man of Mystery, by Fred Siegel, is the true story of a boy who grows up to be a "man of mystery.” Through memories of ape girls and sideshows, dreams of doppelgangers and psychic omelets, and prestidigitation with money, fruit, and Svengali cards, performance artist and magician Fred Siegel will chronicle his personal transformation. Part memoir, part dream sequence, part magic show, Man of Mystery ensures a funny, unforgettable evening. Recommended for an adult audience.
Click here to view excerpts of the dream interpretation segment of the performance.
Experience the mystery for yourself:
- Friday, September 3 at 8:30pm
- Sunday, September 5 at 6:30pm
- Monday, September 6 at 6:30pm
- Cuddle Magic Gardens
September 11, 2010
7:30pmCuddle Magic Gardens is a multi-sensory, multi-media performance completely immersed within the labyrinthine mosaic world of Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens (PMG). Start the journey by walking through projected images and a site-specific sound installation spread throughout PMG’s sparkling corridors. Following self-exploration throughout the space, you will be saturated by a blend of imagery and music, intertwining visual projections with the band's quirky compositions. Cuddle Magic’s music for this performance will combine new and old arrangements with a variety of visual elements and envelopes it all in the glittering treasures of a Philadelphia masterpiece. Music and sounds before and after Cuddle Magic's performance will be provided by Philadelphia's own Josh Carrigan. This never-to-be-duplicated 2010 Fringe Festival performance is guaranteed to make you feel warm and snuggly.
Cuddle Magic is a large songwriting collective that performs boundary-stretching, complex, and yet surprisingly relatable avant-pop music. Cuddle Magic draws formal and rhythmic inspiration from North Indian, West African, Balkan, and Appalachian music to create the folk music of an imaginary people. You will hear trumpets mingling with bass, a Rhodes piano cozying up to drums, woodwinds blending with vibraphone, and vocals dancing around acoustic guitars. Between their delicate vocal harmonies and their compact and cluttered setup, Cuddle Magic creates a uniquely intimate atmosphere in any setting.
cuddle-magic.com
fyorecords.com/artists/josh_carrigan
- September Family Jam: Reverse Painting
September 12, 2010 - September 13, 2010
12:00pm
September Family Jam: Reverse Painting
Sunday, September 12, 2010 12:00 - 5:00 pm
Isaiah uses reverse painting techniques on glass to add vibrant colors to his mosaic murals. For September's Family Jam, everyone can create and take home their own reverse paintings from 12:00 - 4:00 pm. Kid friendly tours will be held at 1:00 and 4:00 pm. All Family Jam workshops and activities are FREE with admission. Tours are $3 per person plus admission. Family memberships are available for free admission and ongoing discounts. - New Exhibition for POST Open Studio Tours
October 9, 2010 - October 10, 2010
For the occasion of the Philadelphia Open Studio Tours (POST), Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens will sponsor and exhibit the work of three contemporary artists, Emily Paulimier, Leslie Mitchell, and Karen Stone. This eclectic group of artists has been selected to exhibit work at Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens by the Gardens creator, the legendary South Street mosaicist Isaiah Zagar.
Visitors are invited to attend a public reception with refreshments on Saturday, October 9, from 3pm-6pm. The exhibition will be on view, free of charge, on Saturday and Sunday October 9th-10, from 12pm-6pm. Access to the mosaic treasures of Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens will also be permitted at this time, and the Gardens will maintain their normal operational hours on these days (Saturday from 11am-8pm and Sunday from 11am-6pm).
About The Center for Emerging Visual Artists and POST
POST is a program of The Center for Emerging Visual Artists, a nonprofit career development organization that creates opportunities for artists to reach their professional goals. POST takes place every year during the first two weekends in October, allowing hundreds of professional visual artists in every Philadelphia neighborhood to open their studios to the public, free of charge, to share and sell artwork.
