My penultimate day in Texas focused on the art of Kehinde Wiley at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. On my final day, I hunted down lesser-known artists showing their work in alternative spaces.
Sawyer Yards was my first stop. I’d read that the area is filled with murals. That is definitely true, but that’s just the beginning. Close to downtown in an old warehouse district, Sawyer Yards is now home to the studios of hundreds of working artists, galleries, restaurants, breweries, shops, and event spaces.
One of the largest spaces, Silver Street Studios, was open when I arrived early Saturday morning. While much of the art was mediocre, there were a few paintings that caught my attention. What was more impressive was the sheer size of the space and the feeling that this is a true hive of creativity.
From there, I drove to the nearby Houston Center for Contemporary Craft. The drive took me past remnants of the previous two days’ storms: downed trees, mounds of debris, and out-of-order traffic lights. The storms had taken their toll on the Craft Center. They were closed because they had no electricity.
Smither Park was my ultimate stop. That one blew me away. Their website describes it as: “Smither Park is an outrageous, fanciful, functional playland 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 seashells. To date, over 300 artists have contributed permanent mosaic masterpieces to Smither Park.”
The size, inventiveness, humor, and overall atmosphere put a huge smile on my face. I could have spent a lot more time there, but I needed to get to the airport for my flight home. It was, of course, delayed.
FYI, Smithers Park is currently being expanded and will be about twice its current size. It’s part of a larger collection of visionary art environments and events in Houston, including a large art car parade, the Beer Can House, and the Orange Show.