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In 2005, I participated in a mural building project with famed Philadelphia artist, Isaiah Zagar at the Institute of Mosaic Art in Oakland, CA.. The event was held in conjunction with Laurel True’s opening of this fantastic institute in Oakland’s Jingletown Arts District where world-class mosaic art is taught and displayed. - Stacy Alexander
Isaiah Zagar received his BFA from Pratt Institute of Art in New York in painting and graphics. He has been working on a city wide mosaic environment for 35 years in Philadelphia, PA and is considered a visionary outside of the traditional art world. He has completed over 70 large scale installations and has exhibited his work internationally.
“In 1959 when I was 19 years old I was introduced to the folk art environment of Clarence Schmidt, My Mirrored Hope, Woodstock, NY USA. Soon after in 1960 there was a groundbreaking exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art, NY USA. Because that exhibition included assemblages of artists like Pablo Picasso, Jean Dubuffet, Curt Schwitters, Antonio Gaudi along side of untrained brickaleurs Clarence Schmit, Simon Rodia and Joseph Ferdinand Cheval that gave me as a trained artist the rationale to include their concepts as manifestations of fine art. At a crucial time in my life it allowed me to begin what could be called a life’s work making the city of Philadelphia PA USA into a labyrinthine mosaic museum that incorporates all my varied knowledge and skills.” Institute of Mosaic Art
Mosaic Book - Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens The Art of Isaiah Zagar
The full color book featuring stories and pictures of Isaiah’s work.
http://www.isaiahzagar.org/books.html
Great book, fabulous photos… you can help support Isaiah’s projects by buying a piece of his artwork at http://www.isaiahzagar.org/stuff.html or take one of his workshops.
Mural at Institute of Mosaic Art - Isaiah Zagar, originally uploaded by John and Stacy.
Isaiah Zagar working on his mosaic mural at his Institute of Mosaic Art Workshop - 2006 - Corner of Chapman and Derby Streets, Oakland, California
Mosaic Art Source Isaiah Zagar mosaic photos & resource archive
What is the Institute of Mosaic Art?
Institute of Mosaic Art - Laurel True - The Institute of Mosaic Art, located in Oakland, California, offers over 50 different mosaic and mosaic-related courses. With quality instruction by experienced teachers in a fun and supportive environment, IMA has something for students at every level of experience, beginner to advanced. Courses include: ceramic tile mosaic, glass mosaic, smalti, concrete sculpture, garden mosaics, Italian style mosaic, glass fusing, ceramic tile making, mosaic design, architectural applications, mosaic murals, summer camps and much more! IMA also hosts internationally acclaimed mosaic artists and instructors such as Sonia King, Ellen Blakeley, Irina Charny, Laurel True, Sherri Warner Hunter, Isaiah Zagar and others for its Visiting Artist series and Lecture series.
mosaic art source - mosaic art course class and workshop links
Master Mosaic Artist, Isaiah Zagar and wife, Julia, originally uploaded by John and Stacy.
Isaiah and Julia Zagar spent 5 days with us in November while Isaiah conducted a workshop at Institute of Mosaic Art. This picture was taken on a trip to San Francisco where we went museum-hopping on the Sunday before they returned back to Philly.
Thanks for sharing this beautiful picture Stacy! 
Mosaic Art Source Isaiah Zagar mosaic photos & resource archive
Isaiah’s Throne, originally uploaded by John and Stacy.
Throne made of Darjit! named after Isaiah Zagar, who made the tile inside the circle.
Created by John Freed and Stacy Alexander
Institute of Mosaic Art
2006
What is DARJIT - an architectural sculpting compound produced by ALCHYMIA LTD which is also a finish plaster good for both interior and exterior uses. It is unique in that it can be applied as a finish plaster in a variety of thicknesses to get a Mediterranean adobe style soft organic look, rounding out corners, creating niches, arches, pillars, or whatever is in your imagination.
Alchymia - Darjit building Material - architectural sculpting compound
IMG_0759, originally uploaded by alibnz.
mosaic on shop front in south street
Mosaic Art Source Isaiah Zagar - mosaic artist archive
another one of the many mosaic tiled buildings throughtout the city, originally uploaded by Scuzzi.
While walking around Philly, we saw a lot of artwork on the buildings and in plaza. There is a huge art community is Philly, and their works are on display for the public to enjoy. Huge murals and mosaics lined the sidewalks and buildings as we wandered around.
Mosaic Art Source Isaiah Zagar - mosaic artist archive
Lower level, originally uploaded by laflaneuse.
Isaiah Zagar, philadelphia
more info on Isaiah Zagar, his mosaic workshops & Mosaic Book - Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens The Art of Isaiah Zagar
Level?, originally uploaded by laflaneuse.
Small courtyard, originally uploaded by laflaneuse.
Magic Gardens - Even this very narrow space is completely covered with his mosaics!
Through the entrance, originally uploaded by laflaneuse.
Isaiah Zagar: South Street Renaissance, a history of Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens
A visual representation of something that happened here
“There are a few places created by an artists, craftsman, and architects through out the world that are preserved and protected because of their unique qualities as examples of an endeavor that we can not define but intuitively understand as representing a moment in time that transcends that time and is somehow exemplary of it. The Magic Garden’s of Philadelphia grew out of a unique set of circumstances …”
Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens - “Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens is a 501(c)(3) corporation formed by artists and community members to promote and preserve the Art and legacy of Philadelphia Mosaic Mural Artist Isaiah Zagar.”
more info on Isaiah Zagar, his mosaic workshops & Mosaic Book - Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens The Art of Isaiah Zagar
Photo of Isaiah Zagar - the man
on the wall is “art is the center of the real world”, originally uploaded by misstori.
Isaiah Zagar, philadelphia
pieces to be broken, originally uploaded by Madonnica and Brian.
pieces to be broken - Magic Garden, Philadelphia - Isaiah Zagar
Mosaic Art Source picassiette photo archive
Moscone Mural, originally uploaded by kid_serve.
This mosaic mural was created by 2nd graders as part of a Kid Serve project at George Moscone Elementary School in San Francisco during March 2005.
Moscone Mural - Detail, originally uploaded by kid_serve.
Kid Serve is an arts education program guiding students age 6-18 through the design and creation of permanent outdoor murals in their communities. The 8 and 14 week projects integrate social justice, creativity and community service and empowers young people to take a leadership role in beautifying and transforming their neighborhoods.
Kid Serve Supervising Artist & Director is Josef Norris
Thanks for the info Josef, you’re doing such wonderful work with these children! I thought there may have been a little of the Isaiah Zagar mosaic influence in there, your murals are so much fun… ;o) Wish we could start something like this up here in Canada! I’ve included your comments in this post cause for some reason the comments are not showing up in the regular format…
Moscone Mural - Fabrication, originally uploaded by kid_serve.
Josef Norris | josef@kidserve.com | kidserve.com
Hi -
Thanks for posting my mural! You had a question about Kid Serve -
here goes…
I’ve been running Kid Serve Youth Murals for 7 years. We do mural residenc ies in San Francisco and Oakland public schools. I’ll usually work with a class for a semester (14 weeks) and guide the kids (age 4 - 1 
through the process of designing and creating an outdoor mural in their community. We’ve done about 50 of these so far.
I started out as a painter - and then met Isaiah Zagar in Philadelphia in 2002. After working with him for a couple of days I’ve been doing mosaics ever since. Another former Isaiah student Laurel True is based in Oaland and has set up the Mosaic Institute of Oakland - a great resource for mosaic artists in this part of the country.
Thanks again for your interest.
Josef
click here for more about making mosaic murals with children
Mosaic in Sunlight, originally uploaded by GoonSquad.
fabulous photo, hope to find out more about this mosaic.. looks like Isaiah Zagar’s work but I’m not sure?
wall3, originally uploaded by scaredsquee.
Magic Garden Disclaimer, originally uploaded by lil’bear.
There are no words to describe the sheer wonder of the “Magic Garden” on South Street. We wandered through the walkways, passages, into the basement, through a maze of mosaic sculpture and art awestruck at the sheer scope, scale, and beauty of this public art installation.
Great book, fabulous photos… you can help support Isaiah’s projects by buying a piece of his artwork at http://www.isaiahzagar.org/stuff.html he also conducts workshops, check it out!!!
Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens The Art of Isaiah Zagar
The full color book featuring stories and pictures of Isaiah’s work.
http://www.isaiahzagar.org/books.html
Painting the mosaic, originally uploaded by Alicia Oh.
Isaiah Zagar finishing the mosaic by painting the outlines of the figures.
South Street Mosaic House, Detail, originally uploaded by Zesmerelda.
South Street Mosaic House, Detail, originally uploaded by Zesmerelda.
Zagar’s garden, originally uploaded by trishylicious.
Isaiah Zagar’s sculpture garden, originally uploaded by trishylicious.
Around 10th & South. www.isaiahzagar.org/
I love Isaiah Zagar!, originally uploaded by mofo.
isaiahzagar.com/
Take a workshop! Last weekend of each month. August, anyone?!
, originally uploaded by Miss Plum.
, originally uploaded by Miss Plum.
, originally uploaded by Miss Plum.
alder street walls, originally uploaded by twoeightnine.
mosaic mural by isaiah zagar a true visonary… for more info & workshops http://www.isaiahzagar.org/index.html
, originally uploaded by ffhcd.
, originally uploaded by ffhcd.