Barrel Monster, a fearsome 12-foot-tall creature made from orange traffic barrels, became an Internet sensation when it briefly appeared along a street here last spring, trying to hitch a ride.
Art lovers around the world rose up in outrage after its creator, North Carolina State University student Joseph Carnevale, was busted by the cops in June. His crime? Stealing the materials for his art from a road construction site.
Barrel Monster spoofs popped up on websites and Facebook pages. Fans posted spirited defenses of Carnevale's work, many saying, "Art is not a crime." Local prosecutors were bombarded with letters begging them to drop the larceny charges.
But justice was done, and Carnevale must complete 50 hours of community service as part of a plea deal to erase the charges. Meanwhile, he has created a successor to Barrel Monster: a towering dinosaur made from barrels donated by the company he stole from in the first place.
Though he says he appreciates the company's gesture, Carnevale, 22, considers himself a guerrilla artist. And a sanctioned piece does not provide the same thrill, not to mention street cred, as sneaking around at night to put up underground art.
"But hey," he said, shrugging as tourists posed for photos with his dinosaur at a recent city-sponsored arts festival, "I'm just trying to stay out of trouble."
Several festival visitors recognized him, shouting, "Hey, Barrel Man!"
Carnevale created the 14-foot dinosaur after festival organizers asked him to contribute a work of art. Some of his community service hours were spent helping set up and tear down exhibits.
His fame has spread. Time magazine named Carnevale one of its "Top Ten Guerrilla Artists" of the year, up there with a legendary New York subway graffiti tagger and Palestinians who have painted Israel's security wall.
Steve Hussey, president of the construction company that donated $700 worth of barrels, dropped by to have a look. The dinosaur has a 20-foot-long tail and huge, jagged teeth Carnevale sliced from a barrel with a box cutter.
"I thought it was pretty cool," Hussey said. He thought the original Barrel Monster was pretty cool too, and had called Carnevale after his arrest to tell him so.
"Those barrels he took cost us exactly $346, and we got tens of thousands of dollars in free publicity," Hussey said. "I'd have to say it worked out pretty well."
