The Beer Can House is currently open Saturdays and Sundays from 12-5pm
The Beer Can House is currently open Saturdays and Sundays from 12-5pm
ABOUT THE ORANGE SHOW
MISSION & HISTORY
Celebrating the Artist in Everyone
In 1980, Houston arts patron and business leader Marilyn Oshman formed a non-profit foundation to preserve the then fragile and deteriorating Orange Show Monument. She reached out to 21 well-known members of the community representing a diverse cross-section of Houston - Dominique de Menil, Nina Cullinan, members of ZZ Top, and others - to assist in the purchase and restoration of the site. In 1982, the Orange Show Monument opened back up to the public and the newly hired staff began to integrate the Orange Show Center for Visionary Art into Houston's cultural life through a wide variety of programs.
Now in its 40th year, the Orange Show Center or Visionary Art focuses on the ability to make basic elements of art accessible to the public. Through the acquisition in 2001 of the Beer Can House, another Houston landmark, as well as being the producer for the past 35 years of one of Houston's most beloved annual events, The Houston Art Car Parade, the Orange Show Center for Visionary Art has become Houston's hub of folk art activity. In addition, the organization provides opportunities for at-risk youth to engage in enriching art projects such as mural painting and Art Car building; and also holds a series of cultural expeditions called Eyeopener Tours that explore amazing art environments throughout the city and beyond.
In addition to the Orange Show Monument, the Beer Can House and the Houston Art Car Parade, the Orange Show Center for Visionary Art, through the help of over 300 artists from around the world, has developed Smither Park, Houston's first folk-art inspired green space, located on the same block as the Orange Show Monument. Smither Park exemplifies the Orange Show Center for Visionary Art's mission by utilizing local artists and individuals in the community to create a lasting, sustainable creative space that will allow people from across Houston and beyond to be inspired and gain a greater understanding of visionary art.
The Orange Show Center for Visionary Art is a publicly funded non-profit 501(c)3 organization. Funding is provided in part by grants from the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance, Texas Commission on the Arts, National Endowment for the Arts, Brown Foundation, Houston Endowment, Wortham Foundation, Team Gillman, Silver Eagle Distributors, as well as private contributions, in-kind support, and volunteer assistance.
Orange Show Center for Visionary Art Chronology
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1956 A permit to build a beauty parlor is issued to Houston postman Jeff McKissack.
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1960 McKissack self-publishes How You Can Live 100 Years and Still be Spry.
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1978 The "beauty parlor" now called The Orange Show is featured in Texas Monthly.
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1979 May 9, McKissack opens The Orange Show to the public
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1980 Jeff McKissack dies after a stroke two days before his 78th birthday.
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1980 The Orange Show Foundation is formed to preserve the site.
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1982 Programming begins at the restored and reopened Orange Show site.
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1983 American Institute of Architects Environmental Improvement Award.
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1984 The Fruitmobile art car is created for The Orange Show Foundation.
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1986 Eyeopener Committee forms, tours of visionary art sites begin.
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1987 Orange Show presents 10-week art program at J. P. Henderson Elementary
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1988 1st Annual Houston Art Car Parade, downtown Houston
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1989 Orange Show offices move to 2402 Munger St.
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1996 Community mural program begin
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1997 Art Car Parade is featured on the cover of the Sunday New York Times
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1998 Annual regional television broadcasts of the Art Car Parade begins
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1998 Orange Show hosts 11th annual Folk Art Society of America Annual Conference
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2001 Texas Monthly names Eyeopener Tours one of "50 Best Things to do in Texas"
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2001 The Orange Show Foundation acquires the Beer Can House for preservation
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2003 The Houston Art Car Parade is presented as an independent event, free for all
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2003 The Orange Show Foundation becomes Orange Show Center for Visionary Art
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2006 Orange Show Center for Visionary Art purchases warehouse space on Munger St.
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2007 Orange Show Monument added to National Register of Historic Places
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2008 The Beer Can House officially opens to the public
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2010 Orange Show Center for Visionary Art reinstates the Legendary Art Car Ball
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2011 Orange Show Center for Visionary Art celebrates its 30th anniversary
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2011 Smither Park breaks ground on Munger St.
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2011 Orange Show celebrates the 25th Anniversary of the Houston Art Car Parade
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2012 Orange Show acquires the "Smokesax"
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2013 Smither Park enters construction Phase II on Munger St.
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2016 Smither Park celebrates its "Grand Opening"
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2017 The Houston Art Car Parade celebrates its 30th Anniversary, and expands its parade route to include potions of downtown Houston, including circling Houston's City Hall.
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2017 Orange Show acquires the 5-acre parcel of land directly behind the Orange Show and Smither Park
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2021 Orange Show celebrates its 40th Anniversary
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2022 Orange Show in collaboration with the Houston Parks Board and HISD hold the first annual Houston Art Bike Parade & Festival
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2022 Orange Show announces plans to expand its campus and build an international destination for the celebration of Visionary Art
Jeff McKissack with Marilyn Oshman
FORM 990s
To view our most current Form 990s please click below
PHOTO GALLERIES
The Orange Show Monument
The Beer Can House
Smither Park
Houston Art Car Parade
Houston Art Bike Festival
VISIONARY ART COMMUNITY
Expand your mind and explore some other visionary art organization in Houston and around the world!
American Folk Art Museum - New York, NY
The premier institution devoted to the aesthetic appreciation of traditional folk art and creative expressions of contemporary self-taught artists from the United States and abroad. The museum preserves, conserves, and interprets a comprehensive collection of the highest quality, with objects dating from the eighteenth century to the present.
American Visionary Art Museum - Baltimore, MD
An art museum in Baltimore, Maryland that specialized in the preservation and display of visionary art with a permanent collection of approximately 4,000 pieces including works by visionary artists Ho Baron, Nek Chand, Ted Gordon, Clyde Jones, Leo Sewell, Vollis Simpson and Ben Wilson.
Arts Brookfield - Houston, TX and other locations
Arts Brookfield presents exciting, world-class cultural experiences to hundreds of thousands of people for free each year in both indoor and outdoor public spaces at Brookfield’s premier office properties in Houston, New York, Los Angeles, Denver, Toronto, Perth and Sydney. From concerts, theater and dance to film screenings and art exhibitions, Arts Brookfield brings public spaces to life through art. In Houston, Arts Brookfield exhibitions and events enliven the lobbies of Allen Center, Heritage Plaza, Total Plaza and 1600 Smith.
ArtX (formerly Art Cars of Houston) - Houston, TX
An organization that aims to encourage new art car artists / builders and increase year-round use of art cars through a variety of events, outings and workshops.
Art Car Museum - Houston, TX
A private institution dedicated to contemporary art, featuring exhibitions from local, national and international artists with an emphasis on art cars, other fine arts and artists that are rarely, if ever, acknowledged by other cultural institutions.
Aurora Picture Show - Houston, TX
A non-profit micro-cinema that presents artist-made, non-commercial film and video. They are dedicated to expanding the cinematic experience and promoting the understanding and appreciation of moving image art.
Blaffer Art Museum - Houston, TX
Blaffer furthers the understanding of contemporary art through exhibitions, publications, and public programs of merit and distinction. As the gateway between the University of Houston and the City of Houston, Blaffer is a catalyst for creative innovation, experimentation, and scholarship.
Brewery Collectibles Club of America - Fenton, MO
The world's largest brewery collectibles club, boasting over 4,000 active members from all 50 states and 27 foreign countries. Members collect "brewriana" - or just about everything with a brewery name or brand on it including, of course, beer cans.
City Museum - St. Louis, MO
Housed in the 600,000 square-foot former International Show Company, the museum is an eclectic mixture of children's playground, funhouse, surrealistic pavilion, and architectural marvel made out of unique, found objects. The brainchild of internationally acclaimed artist Bob Cassilly, a classically trained sculptor and serial entrepreneur, the museum opened for visitors in 1997 to the riotous approval of young and old alike.
Diverseworks - Houston, TX
Diversworks is a non-profit art center dedicated to presenting new visual, performing, and literary art. DiverseWorks is a place where the process of creating art is values and where artists can test new ideas in the public arena. By encouraging the investigation of current artistic, cultural and social issues, DiverseWorks builds, educated and sustains audiences for contemporary art.
Fresh Arts - Houston, TX
A professional organization and artist resource center located in Houston's First Ward whose mission is to provide artists and non-profits access to economic development, continuing education, and networking opportunities to support their professional growth.
Houston Art Car Klub - Houston, TX
A "club" of like-minded individuals, many of whom own art cars, that get together on a regular basis to promote the art car culture in Houston.
Houston Arts Alliance - Houston, TX
A nonprofit arts organization that exists to enhance the quality of life and tourism in the Houston region by supporting and promoting the arts through programs, initiatives and alliances. HAA distributes over $3 million in grants to 220 nonprofit arts organizations and individual artists. In addition, HAA manages the city's civic art collection of 450 artworks, as well as new acquisitions.
Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art - Chicago, IL
Established in 1991, Intuit is the only nonprofit organization in the US that is dedicated solely to presenting self-taught and outsider art - with world class exhibitions, resources for scholars and students, a permanent collection with holdings of more than 1,100 works of art, and educational programming for people of all interest levels and backgrounds.
Lawndale Art Center - Houston, TX
One of the only institutions in Houston that is dedicated to the presentation of contemporary art with an emphasis on work by regional artists. Located at the edge of Downtown Houston in the Museum District, the organization utilizes its accessible location to present exhibitions, performances, lectures, film screenings and events, and offers an annual residency program to further the creative exchange of ideas among Houston's diverse communities.
Luna Parc - Montague, NJ
Luna Parc is a perpetual work-in-progress. Since 1989, the house and grounds have become and environmental sculpture park by artist, designer and King-o-Luna, Ricky Boscarino.
Menil Collection - Houston, TX
Located in Houston's Museum District, the Menil campus is anchored by Renzo Piano's first American building. This landmark structure houses on the the world's great (and growing) art collections. Here they display ever-changing exhibitions that range from antiquities to modern and contemporary art. Throughout the year they also present a full calendar of public programs and events.
Museum of Printing History - Houston, TX
Promotes, preserves and shares the knowledge of printed communication and art as the greatest contributor to the development of the civilized world and the continuing advancement of freedom and literacy.
National Endowment for the Arts - Washington, DC
The National Endowment for the Arts was established by Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government. To date, the NEA has awarded more than $4 billion to support artistic excellence, creativity, and innovation for the benefit of individuals and communities. The NEA extends its work through partnerships with state arts agencies, local leaders, other federal agencies, and the philanthropic sector.
Preservation Houston - Houston, TX
Promotes the preservation and appreciation of Houston's architectural and cultural historic resources through education, advocacy and committed action, thereby creating economic value and developing a stronger sense of community.