January 1, 2006: Headlines: COS - Peru: Art: Murals: Painting: Urban Renewal: Centre Daily Times: South Street's Magic Garden, the soaring, shimmering, ever-morphing artscape that springs from Isaiah Zagar's imagination, made a rare opening to the public

Peace Corps Online: Peace Corps News: Library: Peace Corps: Art: Art: January 1, 2006: Headlines: COS - Peru: Art: Murals: Painting: Urban Renewal: Centre Daily Times: South Street's Magic Garden, the soaring, shimmering, ever-morphing artscape that springs from Isaiah Zagar's imagination, made a rare opening to the public

By Admin1 (admin) (ppp-70-129-43-24.dsl.okcyok.swbell.net - 70.129.43.24) on Monday, January 02, 2006 - 4:44 pm: Edit Post

South Street's Magic Garden, the soaring, shimmering, ever-morphing artscape that springs from Isaiah Zagar's imagination, made a rare opening to the public

South Street's Magic Garden, the soaring, shimmering, ever-morphing artscape that springs from Isaiah Zagar's imagination, made a rare opening to the public

The Magic Garden dates to 1994, when the long-haired, bushy-bearded artist bought a building at 1020-22 South St. that backed up to his Kater Street studio. Next door to the new acquisition was a derelict double lot, which he did not own. Artist Isaiah Zagar served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Peru in the 1960's.

South Street's Magic Garden, the soaring, shimmering, ever-morphing artscape that springs from Isaiah Zagar's imagination, made a rare opening to the public

Artist's garden no longer a secret
JULIE STOIBER
The Philadelphia Inquirer

PHILADELPHIA - South Street's Magic Garden, the soaring, shimmering, ever-morphing artscape that springs from Isaiah Zagar's imagination, made a rare opening to the public last month in hopes to pay off the debts the artist incurred to preserve his work.

Rarely does Zagar let people wander among the bike wheels, beer bottles, broken statues, and other strange stuff he has mortared together to form the garden's passageways, near 10th and South.

But the mystically artistic Zagar, known for tile-and-mirror mosaics that embellish many buildings near where he works and lives, is practical. The garden's curious corridors lead to his studio and gallery, where one-of-a-kind Zagar shirts go for $135, bowls for $350, and straw paintings for up to $700.

Proceeds from sales there will help pay the debt he incurred last year when the foundation he formed bought the garden lot for $300,000 after the owner put it up for sale and threatened to demolish a decade's worth of work.

"Why it's so important for me to save the garden is that it's not finished," said Zagar, 66. "The too-muchness of it is the artist's life."

The Magic Garden dates to 1994, when the long-haired, bushy-bearded artist bought a building at 1020-22 South St. that backed up to his Kater Street studio. Next door to the new acquisition was a derelict double lot, which he did not own.

Nonetheless, he cleaned it up and went to work. Art grew.

"I make art voluminously," he said.

Busloads of tourists were soon ogling it, passersby posing in front of it.

"The common man is clear about it: This is art," Zagar said.

From time to time, he considered buying the lot, but when its Boston-based owner last year ordered him to clear the garden in preparation for a sale, he got serious.

He and his wife, Julia, cashed in an IRA and took out a home-equity loan on their residence farther down South Street. An anonymous patron offered to make the monthly payments for two years. If Zagar can raise $200,000 by this time next year, the donor will throw in $100,000, and the foundation, Philadelphia's Magic Gardens, will own the property free and clear.

To that end, Zagar opened the garden and gallery for a few weekends in November and again in December.

"One of the things people said is, 'I've wanted to come in for so long,' " Zagar said. "The other thing they ask is, 'How's it doing?' like the garden is a relative who's in trouble."

He has also opened his studio complex - a glittering maze of walls, floors, ceilings and stairwells adorned with his trademark shard art - for fund-raising events hosted by supporters.

Sandy Cadwalader of Center City had her birthday party there this summer. She requested donations to the garden instead of gifts, and raised close to $8,000.

"I had lots of friends who came in from the suburbs," she said. "They were wild about it."

Tracy Levesque, a Web designer, is hosting a 40th birthday party there tonight. Guests are asked to give $40 to help preserve what Levesque calls "a Philly landmark."

"Isaiah won't be around forever," she said. "We have to ensure that his art will be memorialized."

Donations to the cause come in through the front fence, too. Just inside it sits a white, swing-top trash can. People reach through and drop in coins and dollars - about $100 a month.

"People tell me they put in money every time they pass," Zagar said. (One man used a coat hanger and glue trap to raid the can until police stopped him.)

The campaign has raised $51,000 so far.

Depending on the weather, this may be the last weekend Zagar opens the garden and gallery until spring, when his final sprint to the fund-raising deadline will ensue.

"I'm very optimistic about the..."

He pauses.

"What am I optimistic about?"

He kneads his forehead.

"Yes. Yes. I think we will."

Make the goal, that is.

Recently, Zagar excavated a four-foot-deep hole in the garden. He plans to turn it into an observation pit, where people can sit back and study the wondrous tangle he has created.

"You'll be able to go down there, look up, maybe have tea," he said. "Who knows?"





When this story was posted in January 2006, this was on the front page of PCOL:


Contact PCOLBulletin BoardRegisterSearch PCOLWhat's New?

Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers
Top Stories and Breaking News PCOL Magazine Peace Corps Library RPCV Directory Sign Up

Top Stories: December 5, 2005 Date: December 5 2005 No: 764 Top Stories: December 5, 2005
Joseph Opala's story of Priscilla in major NY exhibition 23 Nov
Palau President creates Peace Corps Advisory Panel 3 Dec
Cathy Skoula returns from Pakistan relief 1 Dec
Matthew Patrick writes about Wind Power 1 Dec
Bush recognizes Director Vasquez on World AIDS Day 1 Dec
"The Ugly American" helped inspire Peace Corps 29 Nov
Thirty-four Congressmen co-sponsor PC/Military bill 27 Nov
The Nordins push Permaculture 27 Nov
President Bush meets with PCVs in Mongolia 25 Nov
John Smart says Vasquez "less than qualified" 25 Nov
Peter McPherson promotes study abroad 25 Nov
Harry Baltzer honored by peace center 24 Nov
Chris Matthews' has controversial appearance in Toronto 24 Nov
Harry Reid says Bush out to ruin Peace Corps 24 Nov
David L. Dolinger was eyewitness to Gwangju Uprising 23 Nov
Russia imposes more controls on NGO's 23 Nov
Kinky Friedman is a tough Jew 23 Nov
Murphy calls his pension planning 'bittersweet' 23 Nov
Dodd says start bringing troops home soon 22 Nov
Bill Moyers: The Texas Observer at 50 22 Nov
The Best Year of My Life by Paul Theroux 14 Nov

Military Option sparks concerns Date: September 13 2005 No: 731 Military Option sparks concerns
The U.S. military is allowing recruits to meet part of their reserve military obligations after active duty by serving in the Peace Corps. Read why there is opposition to the program among RPCVs. Director Vasquez says the agency has a long history of accepting qualified applicants who are in inactive military status. John Coyne says "Not only no, but hell no!" and RPCV Chris Matthews leads the debate on "Hardball." Avi Spiegel says Peace Corps is not the place for soldiers while Coleman McCarthy says to Welcome Soldiers to the Peace Corps. Read the results of our poll among RPCVs. Latest: Congressman John Kline introduces legislation to alter the program to remove the Peace Corps as an option for completing an individual’s military enlistment requirement.

Why blurring the lines puts PCVs in danger Date: October 22 2005 No: 738 Why blurring the lines puts PCVs in danger
When the National Call to Service legislation was amended to include Peace Corps in December of 2002, this country had not yet invaded Iraq and was not in prolonged military engagement in the Middle East, as it is now. Read the story of how one volunteer spent three years in captivity from 1976 to 1980 as the hostage of a insurrection group in Colombia in Joanne Marie Roll's op-ed on why this legislation may put soldier/PCVs in the same kind of danger. Latest: Read the ongoing dialog on the subject.

Top Stories: November 19, 2005 Date: November 19 2005 No: 751 Top Stories: November 19, 2005
President Bush meets with PCVs in Panama 7 Nov
PC Trainee Wyatt Ammon dies in accident in Zambia 18 Nov
Congress appropriates $322 Million for Peace Corps 17 Nov
James Walsh on the crisis in Nepal 9 Nov
Pam Musk climbs Mount Kilimanjaro 6 Nov
David Morsilli awed by havoc in Mississippi 6 Nov
Tierney Davis in Tsunami Relief Work in Indonesia 1 Nov
Julie Harrold says "Don't change the Peace Corps" 31 Oct
Jacqueline Lyons shares her poems about Peace Corps 28 Oct
Peace Corps returns to its roots in Michigan 28 Oct
David Peterson serves in Katrina Response Team #1 25 Oct
Director Vasquez Travels to Tonga and Fiji 24 Oct
Laura Vanderkam says "Peace Corps needs makeover" 24 Oct
Shriver Center and Maryland RPCVs host C. Payne Lucas 21 Oct
Don Mosley to receive Pacem in Terris honor 17 Oct
Mary Cameron Kilgour writes on abuse 16 Oct
George Packer writes about Iraq for the New Yorker 16 Oct
Richard Celeste says Colorado higher education faces peril 16 Oct
Kevin Quigley says Keep Peace Corps, military separate 16 Oct
Christie and Eric Nelson say no to cars 15 Oct
Isaiah Zagar creates mosaic in Oakland 14 Oct

PC establishes awards for top Volunteers Date: November 9 2005 No: 749 PC establishes awards for top Volunteers
Gaddi H. Vasquez has established the Kennedy Service Awards to honor the hard work and service of two current Peace Corps Volunteers, two returned Peace Corps Volunteers, and two Peace Corps staff members. The award to currently serving volunteers will be based on a demonstration of impact, sustainability, creativity, and catalytic effect. Submit your nominations by December 9.

Robert F. Kennedy - 80th anniversary of his birth Date: November 26 2005 No: 757 Robert F. Kennedy - 80th anniversary of his birth
"Few men are willing to brave the disapproval of their fellows, the censure of their colleagues, the wrath of their society. Moral courage is a rarer commodity than bravery in battle or great intelligence. Yet it is the one essential, vital quality for those who seek to change the world which yields most painfully to change."

Peace Corps at highest Census in 30 years Date: October 22 2005 No: 745 Peace Corps at highest Census in 30 years
Congratulations to the Peace Corps for the highest number of volunteers in 30 years with 7,810 volunteers serving in 71 posts across the globe. Of course, the President's proposal to double the Peace Corps to 15,000 volunteers made in his State of the Union Address in 2002 is now a long forgotten dream. With deficits in federal spending stretching far off into the future, any substantive increase in the number of volunteers will have to wait for new approaches to funding and for a new administration. Choose your candidate and start working for him or her now.

'Celebration of Service' a major success Date: October 10 2005 No: 730 'Celebration of Service' a major success
The Peace Corps Fund's 'Celebration of Service' on September 29 in New York City was a major success raising approximately $100,000 for third goal activities. In the photo are Maureen Orth (Colombia); John Coyne (Ethiopia) Co-founder of the Peace Corps Fund; Caroline Kennedy; Barbara Anne Ferris (Morocco) Co-founder; Former Senator Harris Wofford, member of the Advisory Board. Read the story here.

PC apologizes for the "Kasama incident" Date: October 13 2005 No: 737 PC apologizes for the "Kasama incident"
The District Commissioner for the Kasama District in Zambia issued a statement banning Peace Corps activities for ‘grave’ social misconduct and unruly behavior for an incident that occurred on September 24 involving 13 PCVs. Peace Corps said that some of the information put out about the incident was "inflammatory and false." On October 12, Country Director Davy Morris met with community leaders and apologized for the incident. All PCVs involved have been reprimanded, three are returning home, and a ban in the district has since been lifted.

The Peace Corps Library Date: March 27 2005 No: 536 The Peace Corps Library
Peace Corps Online is proud to announce that the Peace Corps Library is now available online. With over 30,000 index entries in 500 categories, this is the largest collection of Peace Corps related stories in the world. From Acting to Zucchini, you can find hundreds of stories about what RPCVs with your same interests or from your Country of Service are doing today. If you have a web site, support the "Peace Corps Library" and link to it today.

Friends of the Peace Corps 170,000  strong Date: April 2 2005 No: 543 Friends of the Peace Corps 170,000 strong
170,000 is a very special number for the RPCV community - it's the number of Volunteers who have served in the Peace Corps since 1961. It's also a number that is very special to us because March is the first month since our founding in January, 2001 that our readership has exceeded 170,000. And while we know that not everyone who comes to this site is an RPCV, they are all "Friends of the Peace Corps." Thanks everybody for making PCOL your source of news for the Returned Volunteer community.


Read the stories and leave your comments.






Some postings on Peace Corps Online are provided to the individual members of this group without permission of the copyright owner for the non-profit purposes of criticism, comment, education, scholarship, and research under the "Fair Use" provisions of U.S. Government copyright laws and they may not be distributed further without permission of the copyright owner. Peace Corps Online does not vouch for the accuracy of the content of the postings, which is the sole responsibility of the copyright holder.

Story Source: Centre Daily Times

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Peru; Art; Murals; Painting; Urban Renewal

PCOL24181
91


Add a Message


This is a public posting area. Enter your username and password if you have an account. Otherwise, enter your full name as your username and leave the password blank. Your e-mail address is optional.
Username:  
Password:
E-mail: