Barrel monster transports street artist to online celebrity
Last Updated: Wednesday, June 17, 2009 | 12:59 PM ET
CBC News
Joseph Carnevale's sculpture made of traffic barrels stands by the highway in Raleigh, N.C. on May 31. (Joseph Carnevale/Associated Press)A North Carolina college student has become a media celebrity and an internet cause after creating a hitchhiking monster out of stolen orange and white traffic barrels.
Joseph Carnevale was arrested and charged with larceny and destruction of property after building the 10-foot "barrel monster."
Police dismantled the monster, which was standing by the highway with thumb out.
But the 21-year-old history major soon had an online community behind him.
Pictures of the monster came to widespread attention in Raleigh, N.C., and at least three Facebook support groups have formed to support Carnevale, including "Don't Charge Joseph Carnevale."
Even Hamlin Associates, the construction company whose barrels were turned into the monster, was impressed.
"We've had a fair amount of vandalism, but never anyone turn it into art," President Steven Hussey said. "I actually thought it was pretty neat."
Carnevale, who calls himself a street artist, said he snatched Hamlin's barrels on a whim.
"I had the idea in class that morning, and it kind of grew in my head, until it was something I had to do," he said.
It took him an hour and a half to create the orange and white monster, which he erected beside the highway on the night of May 31.
An article in the university newspaper led police to Carnevale, who was charged June 10.
The student, who comes from Indianapolis, said he was surprised by the publicity he has received over the sculpture.
"It's surprising how many people have called attention to it," Carnevale said.
The construction company told police it is not interested in pressing charges. In fact, it has invited Carnevale to recreate the sculpture to stand outside its headquarters.
Police refused to drop charges, saying they have a job to do and vandalism is vandalism.
Carnevale said he's interested in creating a T-Rex out of barrels, but his main hobby is guerrilla photography — making art and snapping images from restricted locations.
With files from the Associated Press
