Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens is a great destination for teachers looking to introduce art students to more unique forms of art. Here, they can learn about techniques such as mosaics, folk art, and creative reuse, as well as the relationship between art and local communities. Instead of only learning about traditional artworks and viewing pieces in frames or display cases, students can tour an environment where every surrounding element is an integrated piece of art. The walls, floors, staircases, and passageways of these gardens interconnect to form a larger-than-life living monument.
Located on South Street in Philadelphia, these gardens were created by mosaic artist Isaiah Zagar. He began working on the building that served as his studio in 1986, then expanded his artwork into neighboring buildings. The museum now holds two indoor galleries, as well as a two-level sculpture garden. In addition, Zagar has created mosaics on more than 200 walls throughout Philadelphia.
The museum is covered with ceramic tiles and reused items such as mirrors, glass bottles, and bicycle wheels. The museum also features many sculptures and countless examples of international folk art. Students can analyze how these separate materials, often discarded by society, have been reused into a larger composition. Furthermore, the arrangement of the mirrors, light, and nearby movement makes the artwork appear to change as visitors walk through the space.
Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens offers several types of guided visits for field trips. For example, the Guided Site Tour is a 75-minute tour led by a museum educator. It includes the indoor galleries, outdoor sculpture garden, several nearby public murals, and the fully mosaicked basement. The basement tour is also offered on the Morning Magic Tour but is not available during general admission, making booking a tour well worth it.
The Morning Magic Tour is a slightly shorter, 60-minute guided experience held before the museum opens to the public. Because of this, students can examine the artwork in a quieter environment and ask more questions of the museum experts. In both tours, Students will also learn about Zagar’s life, his artistic process and influences, and the history of the area in general.
If teachers set aside a full day for this trip, they should also take students to the Magic Garden Studio, about 1 mile from the main museum. This 10,000-square-foot former warehouse is about three times larger than the south street art installation. During the hour-long tour, students will learn how Zagar created the space, stored materials, and worked with other artists, then have more time to explore the space on their own.
If teachers want more independence, they can book a self-guided visit for their students. Virtual tours are also available.
Overall, these gardens can introduce students to different forms of art and how they play into local cultures and communities. This experience is likely suitable for students in grades 4 and over, although older students may better appreciate the museum’s cultural aspects.
