Smithers Park is an urban art oasis in southeast Houston. Named in honor of a couple folk art philanthropists, the park resides between a residential and commercial area, next to the legendary Houston folk art area known as the Orange Show.
The park has art from over 300 people, mostly self taught. The day we were there a few were working on their current projects.
The band shell was impressive, with an interior of mostly cut up road signs.
The mosaics are a collection of random materials.
All are very original in their design.
Bordering the entire length of one side of the park is a 400 foot long ‘Memory Wall’.
The surrounding neighborhood is predominately Latino, and as a tribute there is a ‘Day of the Day’ couple sitting at a table.
At first you think this is a small grass oasis, until you look closely and see the guitar neck in mosaic beyond it, and the grass is the body of the guitar.
Additional images of art on the Memory Wall.
A mosaic dog trying to get food off of the table, that itself is covered in mosaics.
Kilroy is here.
The Tiger mosaic is very impressive.
We end with a view of the back of the band shell, where you see it is a giant fish. Smithers Park is a great stop if you find yourself in Houston.
RDZ Photography 