In Seaside, California, a boat owner took a bold and innovative approach to create a piece of art in protest of a city ordinance. The ordinance dictated how he could park his boat on his own property.
He was forced to construct a new white fence on his driveway, upon which he painted a depiction of his beloved boat and trailer. The mural is just inches away from the actual boat parked behind the fence, now obscured from view from the street in front of his home.
Etienne Constable, a daring resident, was inspired by the First Amendment to create the mural on the fence to showcase the “absurdity” of government laws. He hired a local artist to complete the painting task.
According to Fox News, in July 2023, city officials ordered Constable to build a proper driveway and a 6-foot-high fence for the boat. Until recently, the boat had been parked in his yard. Non-compliance with the ordinance would result in a $100 fine, which Mr. Constable ultimately did not pay.
“The law has a reason for not allowing dilapidated vehicles to be parked outside,” he told the media, “but I think, ‘This boat isn’t an eyesore.’ I don’t know why they felt the need to threaten me.”
City regulations stipulate that “boats and large camper trucks, motor homes, recreational vehicles, utility trailers, and vacation trailers” can only be parked in residential areas with a 6-foot-high fence screening them from the side and front.
Mr. Constable came up with a novel way of protesting.
Speaking about his artistic protest, he said, “I simply believe the First Amendment gives me the right to make statements about my property,” he said, “so yes, I stood up for myself.”
Constable’s neighbor, local artist Hanif Panni, wholeheartedly joined in, using his talent and the power of painting to convey Constable’s message, speaking truth to power.
As a mural painter and digital designer, Mr. Panni possesses a gift for visual storytelling. He created a lifelike mural of the boat in actual size, visible to everyone including government officials from the street without obstruction.
Due to the artist’s skillful strokes, even with the fence in place, it appears transparent or non-existent.
The visual illusion is so convincing that passersby may not even notice the ruse at first glance — the fabricated driveway, the dappled bushes under the sunlight, and the brought-closer boat all meticulously portrayed in perfect perspective.
The mural complies with the law and is protected by the constitution.
Constable says he is “prepared for any response from government officials”, although he did not expect the fame that followed (it indeed gained substantial views on Instagram). He says they both “got a kick out of it” and did not anticipate the widespread attention.
Despite the mockery from the boat owner and the artist, the city responded in a friendly and humorous manner, refraining from imposing a $100 fine on Constable.
“I got a call from the acting city manager/police chief, and he said, ‘Buddy, you’re too funny. I want to shake your hand. I’d love to meet you someday. And, you know, if you need anything, let me know’,” Constable told Fox News, adding, “99% of this community finds it funny.”
Reportedly, the fence installation cost him a few hundred dollars, and he also paid Panni, his neighbor, for the mural.
As for the artist, Mr. Panni is passionate about using art to spark discussions in public spaces. “I strongly support public art creation in public places,” he told KSBW, “It engages people, and sometimes going out can’t achieve that level of dialogue.”
The painter has created many murals on the Central Coast, and since his boat mural gained popularity, orders for similar works have been pouring in.
The article titled “California Boat Owner Ordered by City to Fence-In His Boat—So He **Trolls** Them With Hilarious Mural” was published on the English version of the Epoch Times website.