Skip to Content

Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.

Map of the world

Philadelphia's trash and glass garden

Philadelphia's Magic GardensMade entirely of found objects and contributions from the community, Philadelphia's Magic Gardens is a folk art environment that showcases the work of mosaicist Isaiah Zagar.

In 1968, Zagar and his wife came to Philadelphia after spending three years with the Peace Corps in Peru. Creating folk art all around his new city, he took an entire rowhouse on South Street and covered it with mosaics, over 3000 square feet of them, that include pieces of mirror and original poetry.

Featured by The New York Times as one of the top five Philadelphia attractions, the Gardens provide a truly unique setting for a wide variety of activities.

Philadelphia's Magic Gardens offers monthly workshops with the artist himself where Zagar teaches two full days of breaking tile, cutting mirror, gluing tile and grouting. Over a weekend, students work on a mosaic from conception to completion.

Educational opportunities help visitors understand and appreciate Zagar's works of art, mosaic and visionary environments, and Philadelphia history. Philadelphia's Magic Gardens is a nonprofit organization that relies mainly on contributions from individuals for its activities.

Open every day, admission is $5 for adults, $2 for ages 6-12, free for children 5 and under.

Photo: Elizabeth J Bird

Filed under: Festivals and Events, North America, United States, Ecotourism

Find Your Hotel

City name or airport
POWERED BY
City name or airport
City name or airport
POWERED BY
City name or airport
City name or airport
POWERED BY
City name or airport code
If different
POWERED BY
POWERED BY

Search Travel Deals

Gadling Features

Categories

Become our Fan on Facebook!

Featured Galleries (view all)

Berlin's Abandoned Tempelhof Airport
The Junk Cars of Cleveland, New Mexico
United Airlines 787 Inaugural Flight
Ghosts of War: France
New Mexico's International Symposium Of Electronic Arts
Valley of Roses, Morocco
The Southern Road
United Dreamliner Interior
United Dreamliner Exterior

Our Writers

Grant Martin

Editor-in-chief

RSS Feed

Don George

Features Editor

RSS Feed

View more Writers