Visiting friends and relatives in the USA is always a good opportunity to discover with them the mosaic treasures of their place.
This time I went to visit my nephew Cornelius in Philadelphia where he is doing a gap year for Action Reconciliation Service for Peace in a social project that cares for immigrants in Camden near Philadelphia.
He was happy to tag along a tour of mosaics in Philli.
First we visited the “Dream Garden” (see previous blog) and then went on to the “Magic Garden” of this otherwise very urban city centre full of beautiful art deco and newer buildings.
https://www.phillymagicgardens.org/about-philadelphias-magic-gardens/themes/
Magic Garden is a life long project of Isaiah Zagar who used the work initially as therapy from a mental break down.
The Magic Garden is a project classified under the term “ Art environment”. It’s now a foundation and we could even join a tour of this crazily busy mosaic project.
What drew my attention?
I am interested in grout lines (the interstices between the mosaic pieces) and how to use them in the design of a mosaic.
In one work where Zagar glued colored pieces onto free standing clear glass. Some of the grout lines he left transparent. An interesting blurred color mix appears from the background.
On other murals he used color on the grout cement to emphasize his design.
I am not sure what I shall think of “Art environments”. I find them usually a bit overwhelming and lacking in solid technique. My germaness is getting in the way, I guess.
On the other hand they bear details that are innovative and intrigue my interest. This is wonderful.
