If you’re in the City of Brotherly Love, you owe it to yourself to make a stop at the Magic Gardens, an astonishing folk art monument that has been a locus of the South Street neighborhood for over a decade. The work of sculptor and mosaicist Isaiah Zagar, the Magic Gardens comprise an indoor gallery surrounded by a humongous labyrinth, where all of the walls are coated with gorgeous tile collages. Zagar started work on the project in 1994 in the vacant lot next to his studio space, excavating tunnels and pathways and building a truly magnificent installation. A nonprofit organization bought the lot in 2002 with the intention of preserving it for the ages. The subject matter of the mosaics can be a little ribald, so it’s not for conservative souls. Admission is just five dollars. Bring a camera, because the sheer amount of detail in these pieces is hard to take in with just one visit.
Philly’s Magic Gardens
1020 South Street
Philadelphia, PA 19147
(215) 733-0390
http://www.yelp.com/biz/philadelphias-magic-gardens-philadelphia
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