Philadelphia's Magic Gardens: The Dreamwork of Isaiah Zagar

“Zagar has successfully blurred the boundaries of 'fine' and 'folk' art, merging painting, sculpture, ceramics, and architecture into one exuberant, wonderfully accessible enterprise of contemporary art.”Kathleen A. FosterThe Robert L. McNeil, Jr., Senior Curator of American Artand Director, Center for American Art. Philadelphia Museum of Art “The personality of cities, and what makes them uniquely memorable, is always the human touch expressed by the hearts and minds of caring individuals, not merely the bottom line generic constructions generated by developers. Gaudí is to Barcelona what Isaiah Zagar is in good measure to Philadelphia.” Rebecca Alban Hoffberger Founder and Director, American Visionary Art Museum   Mosaicist Isaiah Zagar toiled for over a decade on Philadelphia's Magic Gardens, an all-encompassing art installation in the heart of Philadelphia’s historic South Street district. The mosaics cover half a block, bursting out of confinement to splash walls, ceilings, a