This summer, Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens is launching a joint tour of the Magic Gardens Studio (1002 Watkins Street) and the Dina Wind Art Foundation/John Wind Studio (1606 S. 8th Street), offering art enthusiasts a unique opportunity to explore the creative journeys and legacy of three South Philly-based artists — Isaiah Zagar, the late Dina Wind (1938–2014), and her son, John Wind.
The idea for this collaboration began when John Wind reached out to the Magic Gardens after considering opening his space to the public for tours.
“Since we had also just opened the Magic Gardens Studio for tours, and because we are so geographically close, we thought it made sense to showcase these two amazing art spaces in South Philly together,” says Olivia Edlund, Education Manager at Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens.
A hidden gem
Edlund toured the Winds’ studio and was delighted to discover another hidden art gem she had walked by many times, but never knew what was happening inside. While the artwork and spaces are very different from one another, there are still some similarities that make the upcoming combined tours a good fit.
“John, Dina, Isaiah, and Warren Muller- whose chandeliers are featured at the Magic Gardens Studio- all incorporate found objects into their work,” Edlund explains. “It’s interesting to see how each of them does that in a different way.” Dina and Isaiah also knew each other, and during Edlund’s first visit to the Wind Studio, John showed her one of Isaiah’s early works that was collected by his parents.
“I think seeing these spaces together also gives people a window into how an artist creates a body of work over a long period of time and how the place where they are creating also influences their work,” says Edlund.
Inside the Magic Gardens Studio
The tour will begin at Magic Gardens Studio, a 10,000-square-foot warehouse that Zagar began in 2007 at the age of 68 and opened to the public just last year. The space offers curious visitors a behind-the-scenes look at where and how his artwork begins.
“We sometimes joke that now we’re like Willy Wonka opening the gates to the chocolate factory,” says Edlund. “If you’ve been to the Magic Gardens Museum on South Street, you’ll notice a lot of similarities, but this space is decidedly different, too, with its own stories and surprises to share.”
For years, people have been wanting to get a glimpse inside, while others had no idea the studio even existed. Now, those who enter will be blown away by the scale and density of the works beyond the front door — mosaics cover nearly every surface, found objects are embedded in unexpected places, and intricate details are hidden in every corner of the space.
“The idea that someone could just keep working in this way for such a long time is a little mind-boggling to most people,” says Edlund. “We talk a lot about how Isaiah’s work is tied to his mental health. At the Studio, in particular, we’ve also begun to think about how his diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease was influencing the work.”
A story in every tile
The studio’s Preservation Team tries to maintain a lot of the aspects from when it was Isaiah Zagar’s studio, so that visitors can imagine what it was like when he was actively working there. They also use the space to host artmaking workshops where people can be inspired by their surroundings and create their own mosaics.
“There are so many wonderful details, beautiful objects, and whimsical tiles,” Edlund says. “I love the windows that have all been transformed by Isaiah into colorful faux stained glass mosaics using a technique he learned from artist Ricky Boscarino, the creator of the art environment Luna Parc. Warren Muller’s found object chandeliers are fantastic and illuminate the space beautifully. You’ll never look at a push broom the same again. There’s also a hand-painted tile that says, ‘Poodles are difficult to draw because??’ that I laugh at every time I see it.”
Exploring Dina Wind’s firehouse studio
The next stop on the tour is the century-old firehouse stable that houses over 300 welded metal sculptures and abstract paintings by Dina Wind. She was best known for her large welded works.
“My mother was a passionate artist, arts advocate, and ‘lady welder’ whose abstract sculptures challenged gender stereotypes and embraced sustainability,” says John Wind, president of the Dina Wind Art Foundation, who shares the studio space where he works on his jewelry designs and fine art. “She and my father were committed to the Philly arts community throughout her lifetime — he is still alive and well — and inspired by this legacy, the Dina Wind Art Foundation empowers living artists, builds community and supports arts education.”
Together, Dina and her husband, Jerry, supported programs at Fleisher Art Memorial and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Dina also served on the boards of several regional arts organizations.
“John is extremely passionate about sharing his mother’s artwork and story with others, and that was very moving to me,” said Edlund. “I loved seeing how Dina’s work as an artist influenced John and how they collaborated during her life. John is such a great steward of her collection and has created a space and experience that thoughtfully honors her legacy.”
A tour with heart and purpose
Guests are invited to tour the studio and collection, enjoy refreshments on the rooftop sculpture deck, and even purchase a curated selection of jewelry, fine art, and catalogues, all in support of the Foundation’s mission.
“Philadelphia has such a long history with art and artists, and these spaces are both actively contributing to the current vibrant art scene. They are places where artists’ legacies are being preserved and where art is still currently being made,” says Edlund. “Together, I think they really showcase how artists have shaped the culture of the city. I think anyone who tours these spaces will leave feeling inspired and with a sense of how art can transform someone’s life.”
The joint tour will be held on Aug. 12 and Sept. 9. Tickets are available online for $30 per person or $10 for PMG members. For more information, visit phillymagicgardens.org
