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Houston's Orange Show Monument
by Masadio Caliente
http://www.freshhouston.com

Next time you visit Houston, pay a visit to the Orange
Show monument just off of I-10 in the Houston Heights.
Here, you'll see a prime example of a "folk art
environment," where a single individual has crafted
a unique visual art piece out of materials from the
junkyard and the trash bin.

Jeff McCissack, a Houston postal carrier, built the
monument between 1956 and 1979 without outside help.
Land that was originally purchased to house a worm farm
became a landmark piece of architecture that he believed
would be visited by numbers rivaling those boasted by
the Houston Astrodome. Turns out that not too many people
were interested; only 150 showed for the grand opening.

Seven months after opening the monument, Jeff McCissack
died and his property passed on to his nephew. A group of
22 concerned citizens recognized the importance of this
folk art environment, formed a non-profit foundation, and
purchased the property.

You can visit the Orange Show Monument every weekend from
mid-March to mid-December between 12 and 5 p.m. Weekday
hours of 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. are maintained from Labor Day to
Memorial Day.

You'll first notice the potpourri of junk that went into
the monument's creation. You'll see a variety of items
incorporated into the structure including cement block,
stucco, tile, wagon wheels, and other castaway pieces.

Hand-crafted signs greet you at every turn. All of them
bear witness to McCissack's belief that hard work, good
nutrition, and lots of oranges made for a long and healthy
life. Those signs are punctuated by a variety of pieces
including animals, people, and familiar characters all
crafted from junk.

Cultural events happen almost every weekend in the
monument's tractor-seat amphitheater. Here, you can
view poetry readings, folk music concerts, and lectures
on folk arts and artists. Also worth checking out are
the pond, the oasis, and the wishing well.

No good tourist attraction would be complete without a gift
shop. And, if you don't get a souvenir there, how are you
ever going to explain this place to your friends?

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