The Beer Can House is currently open Saturdays and Sundays from 12-5pm
The Beer Can House is currently open Saturdays and Sundays from 12-5pm
Smither Park is a creative urban space that has developed with the help of artists and friends.
Visionary artist and builder Dan Phillips worked alongside the late Stephanie Smither to design Smither Park in the memory of her late husband, John H. Smither. John and Stephanie were long-time supporters and collectors of self-taught art, as well as board members of The Orange Show Center for Visionary Art. Inspired by the Orange Show's philosophy of promoting and sustaining self-taught art, over 300 artists have contributed permanent mosaic masterpieces, and it serves as a testimony to the vibrancy and creativity of the city of Houston.
Located adjacent to The Orange Show, Smither Park is a great place to bring family, friends and loved ones for picnics, gatherings, and relaxation.
VISIT SMITHER PARK
SMITHER PARK IS OPEN DAILY FROM DAWN UNTIL DUSK
Admission is always free. On Saturdays (pending weather), a variety of artists are at Smither Park working on their mosaic art creations. This is a great opportunity to see the artist process, and often help them out!
NOTE: Smither Park is a No Open Carry site. Pursuant to Section 30.07 we reserve the right to ask you to leave should you openly carry a firearm onto the premises.
SMITHER PARK SUNDAYS
FREE LIVE MUSIC, CRAFTS, AND MORE!
The first Sunday of the month from 1-5pm is Smither Park Sundays! Join us in the park for free live music, crafting activities for kids and adults, and a curated selection of artisan vendors. See our Spring 2024 schedule below and RSVP to attend!
Upcoming Smither Park Sundays
Click on any of the dates below to RSVP to attend
Sunday December 1, 2024 - 1-5pm
Featuring M3CCA
Interested in being a vendor at Smither Park Sundays? CLICK HERE
ABOUT SMITHER PARK
"It's wonderful to see what people can do when they let themselves go"- Stephanie Smither
A vibrant cultural asset at the corner of two of Houston's most exciting neighborhoods, Third Ward and East End, Smither Park is a work of art in progress -- providing a unique opportunity to see artists in action and the evolution of an international artistic destination.
Smither Park is a creative urban space that developed with the help of an entire community. Visionary artist and builder Dan Phillips worked alongside the late Stephanie Smither to design the park in memory of her husband, John H. Smither. Stephanie and John were long-time supporters of self-taught art, as well as board members of the Orange Show Center for Visionary Art. Inspired by the Orange Show's philosophy of promoting and sustaining self-taught art, the mosaic-covered park serves as a testimony to the vibrancy and creativity of the city of Houston.
The half-acre plot of land is located adjacent to The Orange Show, and features the Lindley Fish Amphitheater, the Vinson & Elkins Pavilion, the Burguires, Hinton & Mathre Swings, the Marilyn Oshman Meditation Garden, an elaborate marble roll tower, and a sprawling 400-ft memory wall - each adorned with elaborate mosaic work created out of recycled and found materials and designed by local artists as well as community members interested in exploring their own creative potential. Over 300 individuals have contributed to the colorful and whimsical permanent pieces of art at Smither Park.
MEET THE DESIGNER
Dan Phillips was the visionary artist and builder mastermind behind the unique design of Smither Park. Throughout his life, he worked as an intelligence officer in the Army, a college dance professor at Sam Houston State University, an art and antique restorator and dealer, and a syndicated cryptogram puzzle maker. In 1997, Dan started his own construction company, Phoenix Commotion, with which he began his latest career of building low-income houses out of recycled materials as a self-taught carpenter, electrician, and plumber. Over 25 years, Dan constructed nearly 20 homes in Huntsville, Texas for low-income individuals whose labor and involvement he requires in the building process. Dan made each home using 80% of his resources from salvaged materials such as mismatched bricks, license plates as roof tiles, calf bones as kitchen tiles, corks to make bathroom floors, and frame corners to decorate the ceiling.
Dan consulted with local professionals in the building industry to ensure that his designs and layouts are up to code while his wife Marsha would overlook his plans for aesthetics. Dan’s innovative and inspirational work is known and respected worldwide. Prior to his death in 2021, he was a frequent speaker at conferences and collegiate schools of architecture around Texas, featured in publications worldwide, and awarded many recognitions including the 2003 award for most innovative housing from the Institute for Social Invention in London, England.
When planning the construction of Smither Park, it was not only Dan’s vast and inspirational visionary arts experience that landed him the job. Dan was a long time friend of Stephanie Smither and her husband John, whom the park commemorates.
CLICK HERE for an article in Texas Highways magazine chronicling the life and work of Dan Phillips.
For more information about Dan Phillips and Phoenix Commotion visit www.phoenixcommotion.com.
DONATING ITEMS TO SMITHER PARK
Over the past fifteen years, artists have transformed Smither Park with the creation of spectacular mosaic murals made from stones, shells, keys, leftover tile, forgotten trophies, and an attic's worth of chipped dishes. The work continues year-round, and we welcome and appreciate donations of useful materials
MATERIALS WE DO WANT!
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Colorful ceramics including tiles, plates, etc.
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Penny tiles in any color
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Ceramic figurines of birds, animals, people, etc.
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Spoons, forks, and other silverware
MATERIALS WE DO NOT WANT!
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Glass and glassware
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Plastic, resin, plaster, or wooden items
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Floor tiles in gray, black, beige, or brown
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White plates
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Esmalte tiles and other fine-grained materials
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Craft-store cutesy beads, etc.
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Religious-themed items
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Items with saying, quotes, etc.
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Left-over small chips and cuttings
If you would like to donate items from the "DO WANT" category, please send email us at smitherpark@orangeshow.org with a description and photo of the items to give us some idea of the nature and amount of the donation. We'll reply with instructions about if, how, and when to deliver the items.
SMITHER PARK'S FEATURES
Smither Park is an outrageous, fanciful, functional play land that features a multitude of different, exciting and interactive features. Our commitment to sustainability and recycling inspires the decorative elements by exploring the reuse and repurposing of materials like broken ceramic, bottle caps, tiles, and sea shells. To date, over 300 artists have contributed permanent mosaic masterpieces to Smither Park.
Lindley Fish Amphitheater
The Memory Wall
Vinson & Elkins Pavilion
Burguires, Hinton and Mathre Swings
Shell Plaza & Walkways
Oshman Meditation Wall
Johnson Marble Tower
SMITHER PARK FOUNDING DONORS
It is through the financial support of many individuals and corporations that Smither Park exists. If you are interested in becoming a supporter of Smither Park and helping to create a lasting piece of public art in the city of Houston, email oranges@orangeshow.org
Mary and Dave Alderson
Carol C. Allbritton
Amanda and Robert Allen
Nancy Allen
D'anne and Steven Anderson
Debbie Anderson
Bill Arning and Mark McCray
Elizabeth Arnold
Laurel and Jeff Austin, Jr.
J Avant
Christopher Bacon and Craig Miller
Larry Barbour
Didi and David Barrett
Carole and Bruce Bilger
Amy Blakemore
Leslie and David Blanke
Laura Bodenheimer
Nana Booker and David Lowe
Allison and Reese Boudreaux
Judith Boyce
Beverly Braden and Edward Smith
Georgene Brandon
Barbara and William Brown
The Brown Foundation
Carole A. Bryan
Mary Jon and J.P. Bryan
Elizabeth Bunk
Alice and Phillip Burguieres
Bob Burleson
David Bynog
Courtney Carlson
Dorel and John Carter
Mary Jo and Martin Chamberlin
Zou and Boyd Cherry
Edwina and Bobby Clark
C.C. Conner and David Groover
Jayme Cox
Christy Cox-Ratner and Ilya Ratner
Susie and Sanford Criner
Gabe S. Cunningham
David Curcio
Carolyn and Platt Davis
Dawnalee
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Karen Lubetkin Desenberg
Mary Beth Devlin
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Ellen Donnelly
Claire Donovan
Betsy and Robert Dorrell
Krista and Mike Dumas
Maudeen and Joe Eccles
Sandra and Gary Eiland
Margaret and James A. Elkins Jr. Foundation
Lynn and Doug Eller
Katy Emde
William Fagaly
Fran Fine
Joshua Fischer
Pam and Paul Frazier
Mary Anne and Charles Fried
The Gallagher Foundation
Nancy Garfield
Suzan and Julius Glickman
Erica Lehrer and Richard Goldman
Mr. and Mrs. Baron J. Gordon
Marilyn Gray
Amy and Tod Greenwood
Don Haley
Janet and Doug Hamel
Lynda Hartigan
Sally and David Harvin
Jesse B. Heath, Jr.
Mary Lou and Vernon Henry
William Hill
Barbara and Marks Hinton
Donna Jean Hobdy
Rebecca Hoffberger
Linda and Fred Hofheinz
Mr. and Mrs. John Holstead
The Houston Seminar
Eileen Cotter Howell
Carol and John Howenstine
Caroline Huber
Joann and Tom Hudgins
Mary Kate Smither Jeffries
Paige and Todd Johnson
Willard M. & Ruth Mayer Johnson Charitable
Foundation
William A. Jones, Jr.
Lisa and Carl Jordan
Victor Juarez and Wayne Blosat
Linda and John Kennedy
Mimi Kilgore and Bertrand Davezac
Kerr Family Trust
Joyce and George Killinger
Dr. Peter Killinger
V. Scott Kneese
Yolanda and Bill Knull
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John Kolb
Weir Labatt
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William LaFuze
Sarah Lake
E. Michael Lallinger
Ann Langley
Ashley and Curt Langley
Linda and Chris Langley
Patricia and Thomas Langley
Doni Langlois
Tracy Levit Larner and Glen Larner
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M.S. Lawson
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Charmaine Locke and James Surls
Elizabeth and Andy Lockwood
MF and DJ Lollar
Belva and Cecil Lott
Sylvia and Warren Lowe
Dr. Herbert M. Loyd
Madden CC LLC
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James Magee
Peter Mahaffey
John Maida, Jr.
Elisa and Paul Marchand
Marlene Marker
Katherine and J. Clark Martin
Lynn Mathre and Stewart O'Dell
Jere and Robert McCann
Janet and Louis McCarter
Elizabeth and Cliff McDaniel
Jarrel McDaniel
Marion E. McDaniel, Jr.
Sara and Andrew A. Merryman
Janet Meyer
Donna Milstein
Dixon Montague
Karen and Robert L. Moore
Sara Morgan
Donna Morris
Amy and Todd Mueller
Susan B. Mullis
Dennis Murphree
Mary and Craig Murray
Donna Neal
Carol and David Neuberger
R. Sells Neuhaus
Maureen O'Driscoll-Levy
Stephen Oden
Judy and Bob Oliver
Ann and William Oppenhimer
Marilyn Oshman
Dr. S.S. Osterberg
Karen and John Oswalt
Crystal and Donald Owens
Aaron Parazette
Bronwen Parker
Denise Patrick
Diane H. and James D. Patterson
Karen S. White
Martha and David Peterson
Sharon Plummer
Pamela Ponder
The Powell Foundation
Ann and William Price
Jan and David Redford
James A. Reeder
Jo Reid
Alan Robin
Ann and Jeffrey Rochelle
Puddin and Jerry A. Rochelle
Anna Senechal Rodgers and Colin Rodgers
Martha Kay Roland
Elsa Ross
Bruce Ruzinsky
Jim Sanders
Louisa Sarofim
Joyce and Arthur Schecter
Robert Schick
Shadywood Foundation
Carol and Ralph Sharpe
Dan and Martie Shelton
Montie Shelton
Suzy Sklar Simons
S K Foundation
Leona and Gerald Slaton
Shadow Sloan
Ann and David Smith
Martha and Frank Smith
Gertrude Smither
Kathleen Smither
Murray Smither
Stephanie Smither
Wilbur L. Smither, III
Ann Long and William H. Spencer III
Sally Sprout
Dennis Starks
Thomas G. Stevens
Mike Stude
Lorelei and Tom Sullivan
Anita and Walter Taylor
Tellepsen Builders, L.P.
Nancy Thoman
Raybourne Thompson, Jr.
Martha and William Thorsell
Emily Todd
Martha Claire Tompkins
Jo Lynn Beeler Towns
Naomi R. True
Toni VanZant
Mary Jane Victor
Sue and George Viener
Frank Vlahakos
Jackie and Bass Wallace
Charlie Walton
Martha and D. Gibson Walton
Julie and Bruce Webb
Linda and William Weiland
Kay and Honorable Ewing Werlein
Christine and Ramon West
Sarah and Larry West
Debbie Wetmore
Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Earl White, Jr.
C. Michael Williams III
The Williams Company, Inc.
Edith Williams and Thomas Smith
John TS Williams
Clint Willour
Frazier Wilson
Kathryn and Thomas Wilson
W. McClellan Woodward
Janet Wren
Marie and J. Lanier Yeates
Nicole and David Zarr