Today we’d like to introduce you to Charles and Mary Anne Fried.
Charles and Mary Anne, please share your story with us.
My husband and I are not involved professionally with the arts but have come to find opportunities in Houston like the Art Car Parade and Smither Park (Both are part of the Orange Show Center for Visionary Art) that allow non-professionals to participate.
When we moved to Houston in 1992, we set out to explore the city and one of the first trips we made was to see the Orange Show. Soon after, we attended the Art Car Parade and proclaimed it the best thing about Houston!
After attending the parade for years we decided (since we had company coming to attend) that we should enter a car. Our first entry was an homage to the artist Antoni Gaudi. We replicated his mosaic lizard fountain from Parc Guell, complete with a working fountain. To our delight, we won a prize and were hooked! That was in 2008 and we have participated in the parade every year. We love to create new cars and have re-finished our tiny VW Cabrio honoring a different artist each year. Adding fuel to the fire were three more awards.
One year, we took an out of town guest to see the Orange Show. It was closed but we noticed some mosaics in a field nearby. It was the nascent Smither Park. We learned that anyone could help and met with Dan Philips (the artistic director) and Stephanie Smither who conceived of the park in memory of her late husband, John. We submitted a design to Dan and began on our first portion of the park, a group of animals playing music, titled “Buffalo Bayou Boogie”. Our next project was to complete a “niche” in the park. Jesse Sifuentes and his students from TSU had already begun work on two lovely tigers, so to complement them we built a jungle throne and crown guarded by alligators, a monkey, and a parrot. The throne invites visitors to take a seat and become part of the park. Next, we collaborated with Debbie Wetmore to complete a quiet portion of the park, called the Meditation Wall, which is 12 feet high and 20 feet wide, covered all in white ceramic with a bench to sit and contemplate. Currently, we are working on a table and benches to which we have added so far a Day of the Dead bride and groom playing checkers.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Working at the park in all kinds of weather in all seasons.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Smither Park Artists – what should we know?
We don’t really have a business, our work at Smither Park is an avocation.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
Dan Phillips, Stephanie Smither, and Ashley Langley have cheered us on in our mosaic work at the park, always being supportive and encouraging. Debbie Wetmore for inviting us to collaborate on the Meditation Wall.
All of the other artists at Smither Park have inspired us by the beauty of their work and by their friendliness and camaraderie.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @maryannefried and @friedcc
Image Credit:
Charles and Mary Anne Fried
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
