A well-known sandcastle artist has found himself banned from a luxury beachfront hotel due to the “political messages” present in his artwork.
Bill Pavlacka, who has been creating sand sculptures for nearly two decades, stated that he was asked to leave the historic Hotel del Coronado in San Diego County after he incorporated a quote from Mark Twain into his work.
Prior to this incident, he had also inscribed phrases like “I love democracy” and “I love free speech,” although he mentioned that he received warnings about those last year.
Pavlacka explained that the hotel’s management accused him of drinking on the job and required him to check his cooler while working, stating that the usage of Twain’s words was the decisive factor.
The quote in question read: “Let’s get the facts first, then we can twist them however we want.”
Pavlacka recounted an encounter where a manager at the hotel, Nick, summoned him to an office for a formal reprimand.
He later shared a letter that referenced “conduct that violates its policies,” pointing to the inclusion of “political or controversial messages.”
In a reaction shared with a local news outlet, he expressed disbelief, saying, “What does this mean? I love doing art. This is my job. It’s fun, and people appreciate it.”
Pavlacka remarked that he found the message to be a “last resort,” asserting that the quote was completely unacceptable to management.
He mentioned, “I thought Mark Twain was a beloved American author. I actually thought the quote was kind of funny. Plus, I didn’t hear about any complaints from hotel guests.”
Interestingly, the quote has its roots in a conversation from Rudyard Kipling’s 1899 book, *From Sea to Sea: Letters of Travel,* but its implications seem to have shifted in today’s political landscape.
Pavlacka, often referred to as “Sandcastle Man,” has been fashioning art from buckets, paintbrushes, and plastic forks in the same location for almost two decades.
While he isn’t directly employed by the hotel, he has participated in events they organized in the past.
His popularity sparked frustration among local residents, who were upset by the hotel’s decision. Kimberly Weed remarked, “Bill is hardworking and quiet, but we have never seen him drink.” She expressed that banning him is a significant loss for the community. “Everyone loves the Sandcastle Man. Please bring him back and appreciate the joy he brings to people all over the world,” she added.
Ken Fitzgerald also voiced his opinion, stating, “There is nothing controversial, much less offensive, about a quote from one of America’s great writers about the importance of truth and objective reality in our nation’s civic life.”
While Pavlacka felt devastated by the ban, he remains determined, saying, “I will not give up. I will still build sandcastles. It may not be here, but it will be somewhere.”
The Hotel del Coronado has not directly addressed his assertions but confirmed that as of February 5th, their association with Pavlacka is officially over.
