The House of a Thousand Paintings

It’s classic creative collaboration. But the participating artists could never have known what their work individually would create as a whole. They could never have predicted the artistic impact their paintings would have on the City of Santa Barbara. This installation blows my mind, and If you have a chance to visit, you won’t stop smiling.

It’s called the Vera Cruz House. It sits at 521 Santa Barbara Street, downtown. It’s a bright green home now completely covered in hundreds of pieces of original art. The project was the brainchild of architect Jeff Shelton, who handed out panels to local artists — and asked, in a super vague way — to “paint something” from a place they’ve traveled or where they grew up.

According to Noozhawk in Santa Barbara County, Shelton was inspired by a home from his childhood, Sanford Darling’s “House of a Thousand Paintings” near Santa Barbara City College. It was demolished, and the paintings were sold to collectors and museums after Darling’s death in 1973. “It was kind of a shrine for our family — we loved it,” Shelton said.

He was asked to design something for the small lot by owner Jason Yardi, of REH Property, and pitched a house “covered in art.” Yardi agreed, and Shelton got to work getting city permits.

Shelton had promised no profanity, nudity or political statements. But perhaps the coolest pledge he made was to ban artists from using rainbows, clowns and dolphins.

I think I’m in love. Thank you, Jeff.