The Orange Show Foundation
Programs
Program 1 [2020]
Outreach Program: The Art Car Parade, introduced in 1988, has become a signature Houston event with a live audience of more than 250,000. More than 250 artists parade their wheeled creations for awed onlookers in a celebration of the ubiquitous automobile that turns Houston's streets into an open-air museum. The Houston Art Car Parade has generated press in Der Spiegel, Smithsonian, Vanity Fair, and Autoweek, with extensive feature stories in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, Detroit Free Press, and USA Today, along with international coverage. It is the oldest and largest art car program and one of the largest public art events in the country, allowing people of every age and from every neighborhood to create and celebrate works of art using the car literally as a vehicle for self-expression. Free Art Car Workshops for all ages are offered in the months leading up to the parade where attendees learn how to create art cars from previous artists. In addition, area schools offer art car classes to create mobile masterpieces and over 30 schools and youth organizations participate in the parade. Due to Covid-19, the 2020 Art Car Parade was canceled. In its place, the Orange Show produced the 2020 Virtual Art Car Parade Weekend. This virtual event was viewed by over 104,000 individuals and included "Tour of my 2020 Art Car entry", Facebook Live tours of The Orange Show, Smither Park, and Beer Can House; a 90-minute documentary: Art Car: The Movie; and years of past parade coverage centralized for worldwide viewership.GeographiesNot indicatedDatesJan 1, 2020 – Dec 31, 2020Source990No causes providedNo populations provided–$214.3KProgram 2 [2020]
Education and Art Experience Program: Our Art Experience education program began in 2009 to introduce supporters to the diversity of artistic expression and visionary art. These trips include visits to unique sites, museums, artist studios, galleries and private home collections throughout the United States. Due to Covid-19, unfortunately we were unable to host these trips in 2020 and look forward to resuming when it is safe to do so. Orange Show Outreach Programs: The Orange Show Foundation offers annual programming such as the Orange Show Pumpkin Halloween and the Easter Orange Hunt, a thirty-year tradition, that are free to the community and offer a safe, family-friendly event in the environment of Smither Park and the Orange Show. The annual Blessing of the Orange Show is a cultural experience conducted by Aztec dancers who educate visitors on their traditional ceremony as they bless the Orange Show for the coming year. Due to Covid-19, we were unable to produce these outreach programs in 2020. However, we provided an opportunity for the community to enjoy classic films under the stars with our Orange Show Drive-In Series held at the Orange Show headquarters parking lot. The Orange Show Monument: In the 1950s, retired postman Jeff McKissack began turning an East End lot into a 3,000 square foot monument to the orange. He created every inch of The Orange Show by hand as a testament to his belief in good nutrition and hard work. Its intricate structure, adorned with gears, tiles, wheels and mannequins, is considered one of the nation's most important folk art environments and is recognized on the National Register of Historic Places. The Orange Show Foundation introduces thousands of visitors from Houston and beyond to the Orange Show environment and visionary art each year through tours, workshops, and special events. The Beer Can House: In 2001, The Orange Show Foundation acquired local folk art treasure, The Beer Can House. Decades earlier, John Milkovisch began transforming his home and yard with more than 50,000 flattened beer cans, marbles and pebbles. The Beer Can House is consistently ranked as one of Houston's top attractions and welcomes thousands of visitors from across the world. Private tours are offered throughout the year and have been arranged for senior citizen groups, civic organizations and universities.GeographiesNot indicatedDatesJan 1, 2020 – Dec 31, 2020Source990No causes providedNo populations provided–$93.1KProgram 3 [2020]
Outreach program: Smither Park is a creative urban space that has been developed with the help of artists and friends. Visionary artist and builder Dan Phillips worked alongside Stephanie Smither to design the park in memory of her late husband, John H. Smither. John and Stephanie were long-time supporters and collectors of self-taught art, as well as board members of The Orange Show Center for Visionary Art. Inspired by The Orange Show's philosophy of promoting and sustaining self-taught art, the mosaic-covered park serves as a testimony to the vibrancy and creativity of the city of Houston.GeographiesNot indicatedDatesJan 1, 2020 – Dec 31, 2020Source990No causes providedNo populations provided–$74.3K
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