Smither Park - A Visionary Park of Memories and Folkart

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Last week I was lucky enough to get to see an emerging park in Houston.  My friends Barb and Marks Hinton, of publishing fame, took me.  It's right out on Munger off the Gulf Freeway next to the Orange Show of Visionary Art. If you don't know what the Orange Show is, and I found a few don't, this group sponsors the Art Car Parade every year.  They also oversee the monument that Jeff McKissick built in honor of the orange.  Google Orange Show and read all about it.  It is quite a place and a great group of fun loving people are involved in the Eyeopener Tours along with zillions of other endeavors.

Another friend Stephanie Smither has donated the land to build the park in honor of her late husband, John Smither.  John was a huge folkart enthusiast and served on the board of the Orange Show.  I met John years ago while taking a continuing education course in folkart and outsider art at Rice University.  It was obvious that he was extremely knowledgeable on the subject.  He and Stephanie's collection is world renown.

I cannot begin to tell you how enthused I was once I saw the Memory Wall being made by everyday citizens, not necessarily trained artists.  After all that is what outsider art is, untrained artists.  I could go back over and over to look at the details installed in each person's vision.  Each unique in its own way.  The above photo is a Tree of Life.  The Orange Show is overseeing the development along with Dan Phillips of Huntsville who is overseeing the Memory Wall.

I tried to download lots of photos to show you but for some reason I could only get these two.to post   The top is the planned park which encompasses eight lots.   Plenty of room for an outdoor pavilion, walking paths and the memory wall that extends the length of the property.  It is beyond cool.

In fact my mind is whirling about where in San Miguel, I can build a small memory wall.....or maybe not so small.  We'll see.

If you're in Houston, go see it.  It's in its infancy stage but look at the wall and marvel at the use of shells, broken mirrors, bones, marbles, tiles and other objects of special meaning.

Get involved!  It will change your life forever.................