The Car From Planet K

Texas tourism supplies and unique art --Planet K Texas is your FunBelt one stop for imported rolling papers, pipes of all kinds, vaporizers, incense, underground books and more. They have six stores in Austin, five in San Antonio and one in San Marcos. It's the San Marcos store that's in front of the USA's supreme court.

The supremes will consider an appeal next month from the Planet K stores over this long-running battle with city officials about the right to display an adorned junked vehicle as utilitarian art.

In 2007, Planet K paid two artists to transform a dilapidated car in front of the San Marcos store into a painted cactus planter. City officials objected, saying the Oldsmobile 88 was in violation of a city ordinance declaring such displays public nuisances.

Planet K is appealing a 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling in February that found their car-planter to be “ultimately a junked vehicle.” Edi Jones is the judge who says when an artist's work is at best secondary, its public display is subject to reasonable government regulation. [Secondary art? To my eyes the Olds 88 is part of the art, decide for yourself.]

Civil liberties groups, particularly those for the arts, are joining the Planet K fight to have the supreme court settle the case.