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In A Dream! Coming Back to Philly in April!

Mar 2

Posted by albert lee in Philadelphia, UWISHUNU, UrPhillyPal


IN A DREAM: Theatrical Trailer from Herzliya Films on Vimeo.

His work is unmistakable. His art is unbelievable. From the Painted Bride on Vine to Bob & Barbara’s on South, Isaiah Zagar’s mosaics are a sight to behold. Objects that were once considered disposable, become the essentials to creating his unique artwork.

Debuting at last year’s Philadelphia Film Festival, “In a Dream” – granted a unique opportunity to look past the shards of broken glass and learn about the artist, his family and the work he so uniquely calls his own.

Winner of the Philadelphia’s Film Festival ‘s “Best First Film”, it was selected in the top 15 in the documentary category in this year’s Oscars. Currently making its way through the festival circuit, April 17th will mark its return to area theaters.

To learn more about the film, log on to inadreammovie.com

 

 
   
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The Magic Garden- Oh it’s very Real!

Feb 10

Posted by albert lee in Philadelphia, UWISHUNU, UrPhillyPal

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  “During the latter part of the 20th and early part of

 the 21st century, Philadelphia had an efflorescence of art

 and culture unsurpassed in any other time in human history.

 And since my name is derived from a prophet, I had the

 courage to follow my bliss”- Isaiah Zagar

 

   That was his calling…

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   Although his name may not be familiar, his work is

 unforgettable. It’s next to impossible to describe the

 Magic Garden on 1022 South to a tourist. What is it?

 Well…, it was a parking lot that was transformed into a

 mosaic garden filled with bicycle wheels, empty beer

 bottles, and broken glass all trying to tell a story about

 one’s artists life and his work. Uh Huh.

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You have to see it to believe it but don’t forget to bring the camera. As

 many times I can recall riding or walking by, I never once

 considered going inside. It never occurred to me that it

 would be open to the public and instead always gazed through

 the gate wondering what my eyes have not yet seen.

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    To say that the magic  garden is filled with mosaics is not to be taken lightly.

Even the washrooms are representation of his work.

 

    Since 1994, Isaiah has spent many a day and night

 creating, transforming and then displaying the work that

 gives him both inspiration and peace. It is his way of

 “nesting” for he has a family with wife Julia and sons

 Ezekiel and Jeremiah.

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   No art is ever easy to create and having spent the

 afternoon with Isaiah, I can attest to that. After creating

 a variety of tiles using doilies, he cleans them,

 administers a glaze, liquid glass, and then fuses the tiles

 with ceramics, which have been removed from a temperature as

 high as 2,000 degrees from a kilm oven.

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His wife Julia has

 to say no from having him put his mosaics on every untouched

 space one can see with the naked eye.

 

   Just head to the Eye’s Gallery( Julia’s art gallery)

 on 402 South Street and look at their ceiling, He couldn’t

 possibly put anymore pieces on that wall. And one could make

 the same argument about the Magic Garden but only Isaiah

 knows when his work will be finished. But to us, it is

 “complete and perfect.” So if you’ve never seen his

 work or like me, had only seen the outside of his garden,

 take your imagination and multiply that by a million!

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   Philadelphia Magic Garden

   1022 South Street Philadelphia, PA 19147

   www.philadelphiasmagicgardens.org

   11-5pm (winter hours) $3 dollar suggested donation

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America I Am @ the National Constitution Center

Jan 28

Posted by albert lee in Philadelphia, UrPhillyPal

 

America I AM

 

 

 

America I AM- The African American Imprint @ the National Constitution Center

 

 “Would America have been America without her Negro people?”- WEB Dubois.

What if there was no Michael Jordan or James Brown or Barack Obama?  If there was no Underground Railroad or a march on Washington?

Where would we be as a people? As a nation?  As a country?

To be judged by the color of our skin and not the content of our character.  

We are all one of the same but it is our culture, our religion, our work ethnic, and our political views that make us separate but equal.

“America I Am” was created to share the story of the African American imprint in this country that is forever known as the United States of America.

Making its world debut at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, it shares stories, artifacts and a cultural history that ranges from the slaves ships in Africa to the nomination of our president Barack Obama.

Your journey begins 300 years before America’s Independence through the actual doors where 1,000 men and 500 women would enter into a life of slavery-never to return home. Ironically, their fight against enslavement was a fight for America- “land of the free.”

It would be this very cause that would separate the country and transform slaves into heroes. From Frederick Douglass to Harriet Tubman, their struggle would eventually lead to the Emancipation Proclamation, which is prominently displayed as one of only 21 to survive to this day.

Moving forward, the civil rights movement could not be without Martin Luther King Jr. whose jail cell key and bench from his time in Birmingham are for all to see.

Lest we forget that the African American’s imprint on history was much more than just for the equal rights of a human race.

The Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin was not the first African American to sing My Country Tis of Thee for on our sweet land of liberty in 1939, with the help of First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, arranged for Marian Anderson, an African American opera singer from Philadelphia to perform in front of a integrated crowd of 75,000 at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.  This milestone would eventually open the doors to many African Americans in the celebrated arts, transforming forgotten dreams into sweet sweet realities.

To conclude this magnificent and memorable journey, you are given the opportunity to leave your own imprint via a video message for you to share with family and friends. How will you be remembered?

One thing’s 4 certain, the journey that started in Africa is far from over.  And as history continues to be written,  “I have a Dream” has become reality. To know where your going, you have to know where you’ve been.

America I Am.

National Constitution Center

AMERICA I AM ADMISSION PRICING?JANUARY 15 – MAY 3, 2009

Adults

$17.50

Seniors (age 65 and older)

$15.50

Children ages 4-12

$9.00

 

www.constitutioncenter.org

 

 

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Philadelphia’s Chinatown Vodcast Series- Shopping!!

Jan 25

Posted by albert lee in Philadelphia, UWISHUNU, UrPhillyPal

Here is tour of everything from Green Tea to  Hello Kitty right here in Chinatown.

Shopping in Chinatown

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Philadelphia’s Chinatown Vodcast Series- the Neighborhood

Jan 25

Posted by albert lee in Philadelphia, UWISHUNU, UrPhillyPal

Here are a series of videos I hosted for soundaboutphilly.com/uwishunu.com  Chinatown has forever been my home and I proud to show you its food, culture and people. Enjoy!!

 

Chinatown the Neighborhood

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Jan 20

Posted by albert lee in Philadelphia, UWISHUNU

 

 

Dutch Umbrella
www.dutchumbrella.comdutch-umbrella

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For me, there’s nothing worse then getting caught in the rain while walking through Center City.  This fall has been notorious for sudden showers, and it always seems like the nearest convenience store is miles away. No worries, Dutch Umbrella has got you covered, one umbrella at a time. Car sharing in Philadelphia is nothing new but umbrella sharing?

The Dutch Umbrella is Philly’s own umbrella sharing system where patrons can simply take their trademark white umbrella from a restaurant, salon, art gallery, etc… and return it when the rain has stopped. It’s that simple!

Established in 2007, the Dutch Umbrella has close to 40 locations from 2nd and Market in Old City to 31st and Walnut in West Philly – just look for their raindrop (branded black bins) inside businesses and away you go! With such a wide variety of locations, who knows where you’ll end up? One thing’s certain; it’s the most unique way to learn about Philadelphia in any type of weather.

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