There is a half-acre in Houston where almost every surface sparkles — and admission is always free. Smither Park, at 2441 Munger Street next door to the Orange Show, is a joyful mosaic wonderland at the meeting point of the Third Ward and the East End, open every day from dawn until dusk. Happy City News loves a place that invites everyone to slow down, wander and smile, and this one does it in full color.
The park was designed by visionary artist and builder Dan Phillips alongside Stephanie Smither, in memory of her husband, John H. Smither, a longtime supporter and board member of the Orange Show Center for Visionary Art. Inspired by the Orange Show philosophy of celebrating self-taught art, more than 300 artists have contributed permanent mosaic masterpieces here, pieced together from recycled and found treasures — broken ceramic, bottle caps, tiles, sea shells, stones, keys and chipped dishes that might otherwise have been thrown away.
Every corner offers a new discovery: the sprawling 400-foot Memory Wall, the fish-shaped Lindley Fish Amphitheater, the Vinson & Elkins Pavilion, playful swings, the Marilyn Oshman Meditation Garden and a tower crowned with kinetic sculpture. On Saturdays, weather permitting, you can often watch artists at work on new mosaics — and sometimes lend a hand. Dedicated in September 2016, the park has just celebrated its 10th anniversary, with expanded Smither Park Sundays bringing free music, crafts and community fun on November 8 and December 13. Bring a picnic, bring the family, and bring your camera.
Photo: Orange Show Center for Visionary Art
