By Sara Krupnick-Ritz
Truesdell House Head
Upper School Art Teacher
Parent of four GA alumni

Germantown Academy welcomed Isaiah Zagar in 2012-13 as Art Across the Academy's first Artist-in-Residence. The breathtaking collaborative mural took roughly 5,000 man hours, over 2,500 pounds of clay, more than 30 gallons of glaze, and about 1,000 volunteers, including students in all grades. Not only did everyone work during art classes, GA-PC Day, and after school to create the gorgeous hallway mural that connects the Dining/Common Rooms with the Honickman Auditorium, they also assembled the mural piece by piece. The following is a tribute in memoriam to Mr. Zagar.

Our city lost an icon last week when artist Isaiah Zagar passed away.

News of this came last Thursday morning.

He was 86 years old. 

You may know Isaiah Zagar because you have visited the iconic Magic Gardens on South Street in Philadelphia.

You may have seen his sparkly 50,000 square feet of glittering mosaic tapestries all about south Philadelphia and beyond.

 

You may know that no artist has shaped Philadelphia’s public art landscape quite like Isaiah Zagar.

It’s nearly impossible to walk around parts of Philly without encountering one of his beloved mosaic murals,

The colorful ceramic tiles both upcycled and site specific, vast mirrored panels and of course, the sparkles.

They are like nothing I've ever seen visually.

I like to think they are like sweet jazz music...

The surprising rhythm of the glittering ceramic tile and forms, the mirrored tiles that offer the deepest reflective moments into his work.

These pieces literally allow each us to be part of the work by reflecting our own image,

When we look at it, when we touch it,

When we feel it move our heart and mind.

 

One of Isaiah’s greatest joys was collaborating with other artists, and here at GA we were lucky to have our first ever Art Across the Academy collaboration with Isaiah!

In 2013, Isaiah joined our entire community to make a mural reflective of the magic of GA, and the beautiful life-giving force of the Wissahickon that runs through us here is Fort Washington. 

When you worked with Isaiah, it didn't matter if you were 1 or 100.

Literally.

He worked with well over 1,500 GA artists in this age range.

When you met Isaiah he was right where you were.

He wanted you to leave your personal mark on the collaboration to see your colorful, growing, reflection.

He helped us to create a piece reflective of all of the majesty that you bring to GA every day.

He wanted you to reflect your passion, your love, your questions.

I remember my two older sons making big celadon green tiles with their track shoe imprints; 

They are in the mural.

Running the trails of the Wissahickon was a big part of their GA.

That was a piece of their GA reflection.

 

How fortunate are we here at GA to have a work by the one and only Isaiah Zagar!

Our colorful collaborative mosaic tunnel will live with us for always;

It's right outside the Common Room.

You see it every day.

As the light sparkles on our GA  mural, Isaiah will live with us for always, in your reflection that sparkles and changes as you grow.

I hope you pause just a bit longer today

and send a quiet thank you to Isaiah.

May his memory be a blessing.