According to Mazur, there’s no special theme behind this exhibition’s work, aside from the fact that they’re all mosaics and they all touch upon Zagar’s family, friends and anybody else who’s inspired him to create his work.
Isaiah Zagar, South Street’s favorite mosaic artist and creator of Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens (PMG) is holding an exhibition at PMG to showcase some of his latest mosaics from now until February 24th.
“Every winter at the end of our mission season, we showcase his mosaics and sometimes he has new techniques that he wants to show off,” said exhibitions manager Adam Mazur.
According to Mazur, there’s no special theme behind this exhibition’s work, aside from the fact that they’re all mosaics and they all touch upon Zagar’s family, friends and anybody else who’s inspired him to create his work. Much of the work includes flowers, buttons and stamps from locations around the world including Peru, India and more. Most of the mosaics are only a few inches tall by a few inches wide, making them perfect for being hung up in the house of somebody who wants to take a part of South Street history home.
“His mosaics grab the neighborhood,” Mazur said. “We consider it taking home a little piece of Philadelphia with you.”
Most of the work is between $300 and $700.
“A lot of his work is very immediate and he’s kind of just stream of consciousness,” said Mazur.
In the backroom of the gallery is a large panel mosaic, which takes up almost an entire wall. The piece is a reaction to an NPR story about the Barnum & Bailey Circus closing down. Various acrobats and animals can be seen in the mosaic.
“It’s an homage to that memory of the circus and also the realities of why the circus ended — probably because of animal cruelty and just the changes of what’s happening with [animals],” said Mazur. “It’s just reactionary. He also thinks of his life as a kind of the circus. He’s comparing these stories to and reflecting on his own life.”
The back room of the exhibition also features a 30 minute documentary on Zagar that attendees can watch.
The exhibition is free with admission to the Magic Gardens. Admission is $10 per person, $8 for students, seniors and military, and $6 for children six to 12. Children five and under are free.
