How do you pay homage to “the perfect food”? Postman-turned-artist Jeff McKissack glorified his favorite fruit by devoting 3,000 square feet of space to orange-related folk art—metal sculptures, tilework and masonry, and several bizarre buildings—in a suburban eastside neighborhood (2402 Munger St., 713/926-6368, www.orangeshow.org [1], Memorial Day–Labor Day 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Wed.–Fri., noon–5 p.m. Sat.–Sun., weekend afternoons in the spring, $1 13 and older).
McKissack once delivered oranges throughout the South, and apparently became obsessed enough with them to fashion this whimsical collection of objects found along his mail route. The absurdity-bordering-on-lunacy factor is rather fascinating, and his devotion to the subject is admirable in a disturbing kind of way.
McKissack apparently believed his life’s work (it took him nearly 25 years to assemble his collection into a publicly accessible venue) would become a major tourist destination, but it never caught on with the masses. Regardless, it remains an intriguing folk art environment unlike any other you’ll ever encounter.
Links:
[1] http://www.orangeshow.org