SEASIDE, Calif. (KSBW) - A California man who was told by city officials he needed to put a fence up to hide his boat from public view did just that with a twist.
Etienne Constable says he received a letter from the City of Seaside in July 2023. The city required him to build a 6-foot coverage screen in front of his boat. After discussing the plan with his neighbor, Constable decided to build the fence with a lifelike painting of the boat on it.
Im not a rule-breaker, but I like to make a political statement as necessary, as well as a humorous statement and a creative statement, Constable said.
He says hes happy with how the mural turned out.
Images of the fence have gone viral online, with thousands of comments across social media. Both Constable and Hanif Panni, the artist behind the display, say they were surprised by how big of a response the painting has received.
Im all in favor of generating discussion and making people smile, Constable said. The reaction is extremely more than we ever expected, and were both just tickled about it.
So far, the city has not responded to the fence mural. Constable says he considers it a First Amendment right of expression and would be surprised if the city tells him to take the mural down.
Panni, who has murals around the Central Coast, says the piece creates a conversation about whats an eyesore and what is art.
Im a big proponent of public art in spaces, he said. It engages people in ways that reaching out and having conversations doesnt sometimes.
With all the attention the fence is getting, Panni says other Seaside residents have already asked for him to create murals for their boat fences.
I'm not familiar with the law regarding stuff like this, but why would the city needed him to hide his boat to begin with?
I'm not familiar with the law regarding stuff like this, but why would the city needed him to hide his boat to begin with?
I could understand if this was a homeowners association thing, but on what basis does the state of California have the ability to tell somebody that they need to build a fence to hide their boat?The state government doesn't give a fuck, I can assure you. Seaside has a population of about 32,000. So this is a dumb law implemented by the officials of a large town that cares too much about it's "image."
I could understand if this was a homeowners association thing, but on what basis does the state of California have the ability to tell somebody that they need to build a fence to hide their boat?
The state government doesn't give a fuck, I can assure you. Seaside has a population of about 32,000. So this is a dumb law implemented by the officials of a large town that cares too much about it's "image."Well, Seaside is adjacent to Monterey and Pacific Grove (i.e. it is all kne big blur of a town) which are extremely expensive areas to live. Seaside is not as nice as either of those but real estate is still expensive af.
When I was a kid growing up in suburban Minnesota, our neighbors (who hated us) reported us to the city for all sorts of bullshit.
One such thing was having our garbage bins visible from the street, which ruined an entire weekend because my dad wanted to "teach" me about building a fencing enclosure.
Fuck them and fuck these sorts of "laws".
It really does seem like a thing HoA would force. Remember when they demanded people keep their garage doors open?Why... would they demand you keep them open?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyjDEqWMubM
That kid has more common sense than the entire HoA has.
Youre gonna need a bigger fence
It really does seem like a thing HoA would force. Remember when they demanded people keep their garage doors open?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyjDEqWMubM
That kid has more common sense than the entire HoA has.