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All the United States Texas Houston Smither Park

Smither Park

A park filled with vibrant mosaics created by more than 300 folk artists.

Houston, Texas

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Kelly Snook
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Guitar in sidewalk in progress.   kfsnook / Atlas Obscura User
  chasepopt / Atlas Obscura User
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Smither Park   lfhphoto / Atlas Obscura User
Swingset at Smither Park   keljvon / Atlas Obscura User
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Mosaic bird on wall at Smither Park, Houston.   robinhorton / Atlas Obscura User
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Meditation Garden   kfsnook / Atlas Obscura User
Memory Wall   kfsnook / Atlas Obscura User
Dios de la Muerta Groom   kfsnook / Atlas Obscura User
Paint brush in sidewalk.   kfsnook / Atlas Obscura User
Artists working.   kfsnook / Atlas Obscura User
Kayaks in sidewalk.   kfsnook / Atlas Obscura User
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Found a car!   kfsnook / Atlas Obscura User
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About

While strolling through eclectic assortment of colorful mosaics, be prepared to come across anything from abstract designs to recognizable shapes like kayaks and guitars. Houston’s Smither Park is covered in creative folk mosaics contributed by more than 300 artists.

The self-taught artists used recycled materials like broken dishes and discarded glass. It’s an ongoing, evolving project, so it’s still frequently filled with artists adding new works.

The medley of mosaics makes the park feel like a vibrant outdoor gallery. The walls and sidewalks are covered in colored glass and other odd found materials. There’s also a memorial wall, a meditation garden, a pavilion that appears to be held up by trees, and a stage built to look like the mouth of a giant angler fish.

Dan Phillips and Stephanie Smither designed the park in honor of Stephanie's late husband, John H. Smither. The Smithers, who have now both passed away, were avid supporters of outsider and folk art. The creative urban space honors their memories and philanthropic contributions to the arts.

The park is a peaceful place to walk around. Bring a picnic to enjoy a lovely lunch outside, or go on a Saturday to watch the artists at work.

Smither Park is part of the Orange Show Center for Visionary Art, a local Houston nonprofit which manages not only Smither Park, but the legendary Houston Art Car Parade, the Beer Can House, and of course, the Orange Show. The park continues to expand as more and more artists contribute.

Related Tags

Parks Art Mosaics

Know Before You Go

If you are an artist interested in contributing time or resources, contact the Orange Show about volunteer opportunities.

Community Contributors

Added By

kfsnook

Edited By

OliviaRose, keljvon, lfhphoto, notoriousFIG...

  • OliviaRose
  • keljvon
  • lfhphoto
  • notoriousFIG
  • robinhorton
  • chasepopt
  • SemiruralYeti
  • jlord7
  • jayrocky
  • megandeer

Published

December 26, 2017

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  • http://orangeshow.org/smitherpark/
  • http://www.houstonpress.com/arts/a-beautiful-wonderful-park-for-the-late-stephanie-and-john-smither-8808486
  • https://www.houstoniamag.com/articles/2016/9/30/orange-show-smither-park
Smither Park
2441 Munger St
Houston, Texas
United States
29.716771, -95.324647
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