Montecito Journal May 28th – June 4th, 2009 p 29
By Judy Foreman, Life and Style Editor.
For Caroline and Steve Thompson, taking chances is nothing new. The couple opened their upscale indoor and outdoor furniture showroom in Santa Barbara’s less than fancy Funk Zone four years ago, and have steadily attracted customers with the
ir eclectic and appealing collection of home furnishings. The Thompsons’ talent lies in the mixing and matching of different styles of furniture for home and outdoor living spaces. Their showroom illustrates through ensemble vignettes how to combine and
mix different elements from a variety of floor coverings, fabrics, furniture, lighting elements and accessories. “We reset the showroom floor every five weeks, in hopes that each time you visit Cabana Home you will come away with a fresh experience and new ideas,” Steve told me.
Cabana Home’s outdoor living room area boast a collection of patio umbrellas, outdoor rugs, plant containers, fountains and pillows. Just up the steps is the Thompsons’s intereior showroom, where the walls are alive with colorful works of art.
The current exhibition is the work of R. Nelson Parrish, a 29 year old Alaskan artist now living and working in Santa Barbara after completeing an MFA from UCSB. Parrish’s work represents a new and expanded collaboration between the Thompsons and Edward Cella Art + Architecture. ”We feel strongly about any artist represented by Edward Cella because he is so knowledgeable about emerging West Coast Artists. We particularly have enjoyed getting to know Nelson because of the extraordinary detail and depth represented in his work and he is an all around great guy,” Caroline said.
Parrish is a former ski racer and now a surfer. ”I am better when I am moving,” he says. ”For me, fast is natural. It’s calming. For me,” he continues, “color is a language. Color is the most natural and effective way to drive my thoughts home.” Each piece represents an investment of time and sweat equity. The process is a constant additive and reductive of layering, sanding, painting and polishing. The end result is stunning. The organic wood grain shapes and under-paintings meld fluidly with the contrasting, precise stripes. The bold color seems to be contained only by the smooth, hand-polished mirror finish. Cabana Home’s first one-man show, “From the Studio” runs now through June 24th.
According to Steve Thompson, “While the Art can stand alone and be intergrated into any decor, many people might be afraid to mix this medium with a more traditional setting.” He believes Cabana Home and Parrish’s show might make them change their minds.
The opening reception was scheduled for the night of May 6th, but as ferocious sundowner winds fueled the Jesusitsa Fire, many attendees, such as myself, stayed away. On Saturday morning, June 20th, Cabana Home will host an informal coffee with the artist from 10 AM to noon for those who missed out on the original evening event or would like to return for a second look and/or hear Parrish describe his technique and inspiration.
In the fall, Edward Cella Art + Architecture will present a solo exhibition of Parrish’s work in its new Los Angeles location. For more information visit Cabana Home, 111 Santa Barbara Street (805.962.5900) or www.cabanahome.com
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