Orange Show History

Houston postman Jeff McKissack created The Orange Show in honor of his favorite fruit and illustrate his belief that longevity results from hard work and good nutrition. Working in isolation from 1956 until his death in 1980, McKissack used common building materials and found objects — bricks, tiles, fencing, farm implements — to transform an East End lot into an architectural maze of walkways, balconies, arenas and exhibits decorated with mosaics and brightly painted iron figures.

When McKissack died, Houston arts patron Marilyn Oshman formed a non-profit foundation to preserve The Orange Show. The 21 original donors represent a diverse cross-section of Houston -- Dominique de Menil, Nina Cullinan, members of the legendary Texas rock band ZZ Top and East End funerary director Tommy Schlitzberger. In 1982, the restored site opened and newly hired staff began to integrate The Orange Show into Houston’s cultural life through a wide variety of programs. Artists, musicians and literary figures that make Houston their home bring depth and dimension to programs, and give the public immediate access to creative thinking.

Programs focus on the Orange Show’s ability to make basic elements of art tangible and accessible. Dynamic events involve at risk youth in community enriching art projects -– to date 28 murals have been created under Orange Show auspices. A library and archive document visionary artists and environments. Outreach programs encourage the public to participate in the creative process; among the most successful of these is Art Car Weekend.
In 1984, The Orange Show Foundation commissioned the Fruitmobile, recognizing that the art car; a medium for self-expression, is a mobile visionary art site. This led to the first annual Art Car Parade, co-sponsored with the Houston International Festival in 1988. The parade has grown into Art Car Weekend, attracting participants from around the world and including a series of events that celebrate this art form.

The Orange Show Center for Visionary Art has become Houston’s hub of folk art activity with nationally respected programs. The Orange Show site is at the center of these programs, a living example of how individual vision can dramatically enrich community and culture.
The Orange Show Center for Visionary Art is publicly funded, receiving grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, Texas Commission on the Arts, City of Houston and Harris County through the Cultural Arts Council of Houston/Harris County, Brown Foundation, Houston Endowment, Wortham Foundation and other charitable foundations and individuals

 

Orange Show Center for Visionary Art
Chronology

A permit to build a beauty parlor is issued to Houston postman Jeff McKissack.
1956

McKissack self-publishes How You Can Live 100 Years and Still be Spry.
1960

The “beauty parlor” now called The Orange Show is featured in Texas Monthly.
1978

McKissack opens The Orange Show to the public on
May 9, 1979

Jeff McKissack dies after a stroke two days before his 78th birthday.
1980

The Orange Show Foundation is formed to preserve the site.
1980

Programming begins at the restored and reopened Orange Show site.
1982

American Institute of Architects Environmental Improvement Award.
1983

The Fruitmobile art car is created for The Orange Show Foundation.
1984

Eyeopener Committee forms, tours of visionary art sites begin.
1986

Orange Show presents 10-week art program at J. P. Henderson Elementary
1987

1st Annual Art Car Parade, downtown Houston
1988

Orange Show offices move to 2402 Munger St.
1989

Community mural program begins
1996

Art Car Parade is featured on the cover of the Sunday New York Times
1997

Annual regional television broadcasts of the Art Car Parade begins
1998

Orange Show hosts 11th annual Folk Art Society of America Annual Conference
1998

Texas Monthly names Eyeopener Tours one of “50 Best Things to do in Texas”
2001

The Orange Show Foundation acquires the Beer Can House for preservation
2001

The Art Car Parade is presented as an independent event, free for all
2003

The Orange Show Foundation becomes Orange Show Center for Visionary Art
2003

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