Past Events
- Summer Solstice 2010: Once upon a Tile
June 26, 2010
1:00pm
Join Philadelphia's Magic Gardens in an all-out celebration of long summer days at the third annual Summer Solstice Festival, spanning from 1:00pm to 10:00 pm on June 26, 2010. This year's Summer Solstice Festival, "Once Upon A Tile," will be PMG's largest event of the year, featuring music, dancing, poetry readings, and interactive activities, all with narrative themes.
The day's programming will tell many interesting stories, whether it be through song, poetry, painting, or artwork. From 1:00pm to 6:00pm, roam the adjacent Kater and Alder Street alleys where a wide variety of artists, craftspeople, and food vendors will sell their wares.
The entertainment starts at 2:00pm with a mix of eclectic performances, both indoors and outside in the mosaiced corridors to keep you entertained throughout the day. Fun hands-on activities for kids and adults will allow Solstice celebrators the opportunity to make (and take home) their own work of art.
The night will conclude with a lively dance party led by Sonic Liberation Front, an exciting 13 member Afro-Cuban jazz group who will set a stimulating musical backdrop for dancing.
Key performers include:- Joe Boruchow & The Nite Lights - performing a captivating musical score along with a slideshow of Boruchow's renowned picture book: Stuffed Animals: A Story In Paper Cutouts
- Lenny Seidman and Thomas Wave - World Music and Jazz curator at the Painted Bride Art Center in Philadelphia, playing interesting Indian tabla drums and sitar
- Sonic Liberation Front -- exciting 13 member Afro-Cuban jazz group playing lively dance music
- Bhakti - Astonishing yoga acrobatics, formerly called Fly Girls
- DJ Ginkgo - Last but not least, the Solstice will come to a close with world beats spun by PMG's favorite DJ
UPDATE: Unfortunately, Saturn Never Sleeps (DJs King Britt & Rucyl) will not be perfoming today at the Solstice. This was an extremely last-minute cancellation and we apologize for any inconvenience. We still hope to see you here today!
Drinks will be provided by Root from 6:00pm to 7:00pm, and Fergie's Pub from 7:00pm to 10:00pm.
This event is fast-paced, BYOB, and an amazing way to spend a summer day, no matter what your age or interests. With the combination of narrative and multi-cultural performances in PMG's one-of-a-kind mosaiced wonderland, this night is sure to be a memorable experience for the whole community.
$10 for adults
$7 for PMG members and students
$5 for kids
- Family Jams: Fragment Finders
June 13, 2010
12:00pm
June Family Jam: Fragment Finders!
June 13, 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Fragment Finders is a hands-on book arts project that sends visitors of all ages on an epic quest to find the tiles, folk art, and history that is embedded in the labyrinthine walls of PMG. Successful "Fragment Finders" will receive a ceramic prize when they have completed the scavenger hunt! Explore the Garden with an expert on our kid-friendly tours at 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm.
Join us every second Sunday of the month for a variety of mosaic themed, hands-on workshops and kid-friendly tours. All Family Jam workshops are FREE with admission. Tours are just $3 per person with admission. - PMG closed early today
- Memorial Weekend Hours
Saturday, May 29: 11:00am - 5:00pm
Sunday, May 30: 11:00am - 6:00pm
Monday, May 31: 11:00am - 6:00pm
We are closing at 5:00pm on Saturday, May 29th due to a private event.
Walking tours are available on Saturday at 12:00pm and 4:00pm and on Sunday at 4:00pm. - Concert Tonight!
May 24, 2010
7:00am
Come visit PMG for a special show beginning promptly at 7:00pm. Get here early and walk through the Gardens, and food and beverages are allowed! Admission is $10 and it's BYOB.
Nana Grizol
Hailing from Athens, Georgia, Nana Grizol displays raw emotion and lyrical brilliance delivered with punk rock aesthetics and blasting guitars and horns. Featuring members of Elf Power, The Music Tapes, and Defiance Ohio, they've released records with the great indie-label Orange Twin Records.
Folklore
Acclaimed Philly band who's lineup tonight features 8-9 members, Folklore features experimental and folk influences, epic story-telling and an enchantingly dynamic performance.
Woodlands
Woodlands is a new project from Arrah of Arrah And The Ferns, so check it out! - Music & Mosaic Concert Series: Collaborative Compositions
May 22, 2010
6:30pm
Enjoy a night of music with Collaborative Compositions, the May installation of Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens Music & Mosaic Concert Series. On Saturday, May 22, Jason Min, The Norwalks and Pepi Ginsberg will perform enchanting and reflective pop indie tunes in conjunction with PMG’s current art exhibition: Creative Correspondence: Equal Exchange Collaborative Works. This temporary gallery show is a collaboration in which Philadelphia artists and students of the Oasis Art center create artworks with one another.
Jason Min has pursued his solo musical projects for over a year with compositions that investigate his journey to find significance and identity in life. The former "front man” of the Philadelphia based band Miss Vintage, Min’s recent compositions are greatly influenced by bands such as Radiohead, Sigur Ros, and Explosions in the Sky, creating a unique sound that is driven by beautifully-layered guitar lines and melodic, ambient soundscapes.
Josh Jones, is the primary songwriter of the band Univox. Hailing from Philadelphia, Univox is known for their energetic live performances. This show offers the unique opportunity to see Jones perform in a subtle, alternative setting.
Pepi Ginsberg, a Brooklyn-based singer, started setting her poems to songs while studying writing at University of Pennsylvania. With the production assistance of Dr. Dog front man Scott McMicken, she has cultivated her style into a beautiful and distinct modern-folk sound. Ginsberg’s most recent album, "East is East,” is a wonderful development from her prior musical style, featuring Ginberg’s striking voice set within glittering full band arrangements.
The Norwalks consists of Danielle Lessovitz on vocals and guitar, Jon Guez on guitar, and Sam Allingham on drums. Featuring pop songs with an indie undertone and memorable vocals, The Norwalks will leave a child-like reminiscence feeling with all who listen.
After performing separate sets, The Norwalks and Pepi Ginsberg will perform songs as their own musical extension of Creative Correspondence. - Miro Mash Up #3: Van Stiefel, Toy Soldiers, & Miro
May 20, 2010
6:30pmThe Miro Mash-Up Series is an experiment combining live music and dance-prepared fresh and served raw. Each experiment has Miro in the studio with a rock band and a composer, and on the fourth day we emerge to share the results for a brave audience who will experience a never to be repeated performance. Please join us in PMG’s beautiful, mosaiced sculpture garden for an evening of the unexpected, unadulterated and completely unusual.Mash-Up #3 will feature guest Van Stiefel. Trained as a classical guitarist at an early age, Steifel's music now exhibits an odd synthesis of classical and electric guitar strategies. He co-directs New Music at West Chester University and the WCU Laptop Quartet. Steifel will be joined collaborating with Miro and our house band, Toy Soldiers.This event is BYO.
- Family Jams: Mommy Masks
May 9, 2010
12:00pm
Family Jams: Mother's Day Mask Making
May 9, 12:00 – 4:00 pm
Make a Julia Zagar-inspired “Mommy Mask” in celebration of Mother's Day! Julia, founding artist Isaiah Zagar’s wife of 47 years, is the inspiration for thousands of beautiful portraits through Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens. In this May's Family Jam, the whole family can decorate and customize their own paper masks from 12:00 - 4:00 pm and learn more about Julia and the Zagar family on our kid-friendly tours at 1:00 and 4:00 pm. The hands-on activity is FREE with admission and tours are just $3 per person after admission.Family Jams PMG's one-of-a-kind, family-oriented programs, are featured every second Sunday of the month from 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm, throughout 2010.
PMG Admission: Adults/ $4, Kids 6 – 12/ $2, Kids under 6/ FREE, Tours/ $3 with admission
