A luminous structure forged from reclaimed plexiglass is currently adorning the entrance to Arroyo Burro Beach. Called “Camouflage House,” the object d’art was created by sculptor Tom Fruin as part of his Icon series and was brought to town by the Santa Barbara County Office of Arts and Culture (SBCOAC) in partnership with the County Community Services Department’s Office of Arts and Culture and Parks divisions.
Fruin, a California native and UCSB alum, is internationally acclaimed for his work, including his Watertower series, which consists of water towers (as the name implies) atop New York City rooftops and other U.S. cities, and “Kolonihavehus,” a garden shed — another piece from his Icon series — made from about 1,000 pieces of plexiglass. Both are currently on display in Brooklyn, New York, where the artist lives.
Fruin, who calls himself “scrappy,” sourced the materials for “Camouflage House” from upcycled plexiglass collected outside a closed Chinese restaurant in Brooklyn. The plexiglass sheet had the “right color and vibe: multicultural, multicolored, made from scraps,” he said in a recent interview with the Independent, and the piece now stands strong despite its “humble origins.” Astute viewers may even notice legible signage remaining on the sculpture.