Two sand sculptors paid homage to New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie on Tuesday with a giant sand replica of the now-infamous photo of Christie lounging in a chair on a beach closed to the public.
The two sand sculptors, known only as Larry and Tom, began crafting the sculpture on a Seaside Heights, N.J., beach Tuesday at 9 a.m. and finished by 1 p.m., lifeguards told NBC.
What talent! A “topical” sand sculpture on the Seaside Heights beach today. (Photo: Dave Bobal) pic.twitter.com/RGrRjpi4D9
— JSHN (@JSHurricaneNews) July 4, 2017
The two men visit the same corner of the beach each year to build a sculpture. Last year, the pair paid tribute to the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks after the 15-year anniversary.
This year’s sculpture took on a more humorous tone.
The sculpture featured Christie in a red T-shirt, red hat and blue shorts lounging on his beach chair, with a shark next to him. The sculpture also included the phrases “Beach Closed,” “I Love New Jersey” and “July 4th.”
Inspiration for the sculpture came from aerial photos taken by the New Jersey Star-Ledger during the Fourth of July weekend. In the photos, Christie and his family were caught on a closed beach outside the state-owned governor’s retreat at Island Beach State Park.
Christie shut down the state government Friday night after the state legislature failed to pass a budget.
Because of the shutdown, 40 state parks, recreational areas, historic sites, state beaches and Liberty State Park closed.
Inspiration in SeasideHeights from @GovChristie stay at a closed state park beach house during budget crisis @NBCNewYork @JSHurricaneNews pic.twitter.com/MViaOTlDrh
— Brian Thompson (@brian4NY) July 4, 2017
When asked about the photos, the Republican governor refused to apologize.
“That is our beach house, and we have a right to be there whenever we want,” Christie said during a news conference.
State parks and beaches were reopened in time for the Fourth of July after the governor signed a budget deal made by the state legislature Monday night.
