Man arrested for "Barrel Monster" art

[dem629]

A North Carolina man is facing criminal charges for creating an amusing piece of public art from construction barrels. Joseph Carnevale, 21, was nabbed Wednesday after a Raleigh Police Department investigation determined that he was responsible for the work (seen below) constructed May 31 on a roadway adjacent to North Carolina State University.

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2009/0612092monster1.html

[ixion]

1. nice little piece of sculpture there

it's too bad NC has no sense of humor.

[Xithras]

6. The barrels didn't belong to the state

They belonged to a private construction company, and were apparently worth a few hundred bucks.

He'll probably get a warning and a restitution order out of this, as he should. Art is fine, but art created by destroying other peoples property isn't.

[MineralMan]

2. Pretty cool prank, but it would have been better if he

had purchased the barrels somewhere, rather than stealing them.

http://www.scsupplyco.com/Barrels%20-%20Drums.htm

[KittyWampus]

If he'd purchased the barrels, we probably wouldn't have ever heard of him.

[MineralMan]

14. True enough. But, what good's a prank if you don't know

who the prankster was. As a lifelong prankster, I know the importance of publicity.

[tridim]

3. Love it! It reminds me of the bots from MST3K.

[dysfunctional press]

4. he should have used his own barrels...

and not instead destroyed public/private property. :shrug:

[KittyWampus]

10. Ah, but this way he gets more publicity!

[OneGrassRoot]

5. That's here in Raleigh, and I heard him interviewed on the radio this morning...

They kept saying "allegedly" for obvious legal reasons. He's a history major, but obviously quite creative.

The radio people want to work with him to turn this into a positive. Like the new "Smokey the Bear" -- turn the mean look into a smile and teach kids highway and driving safety in general.

Seems he's on probation for something else, so that will no doubt complicate this for him. They said the value of the construction barrels is like $350.

[cloudbase]

7. Word is that charges have been dropped,

and the company would like him to make a few more of the monsters.

[ThomCat]

11. That is a smart company.

:)

They could have a cool company mascot out of this. They are definitely getting free publicity, and by being nice to the artist they are making sure that it is good publicity.

I think they are definitely making a smart move.

[merh]

15. Yeah for the company

That is not only a smart advertising move, it is very kind of them.

And looking at the photo, the monster may well be more effective than just the barrels - folks will probably pay more attention to the monster, the barrels are so common now.

[dysfunctional press]

8. already on probation...? what a fucking moron.

it sounds like he deserves/NEEDS to be taught a lesson.

[MineralMan]

12. There ya go. Good thing you aren't in charge, then.

Pranks are pranks. He should have bought his own barrels, but that's it.

[malaise]

18. What lesson exactly?

Yeh throw him in the prison population and forget him. :sarcasm:

I hope he makes many more mascots for the company.

[MineralMan]

9. Nope. $69 ea. at Suzy's Drums. See my link in another post.

Shoulda bought 'em.

[OneGrassRoot]

13. Yep, shoulda bought 'em for sure. If he's already on probation...

he should understand the concept of consequences.

Oy.

[hootinholler]

21. The warrant says 3 barrels for $360.

They must use the good ones, or it includes bases or something.

-Hoot

[dem629]

17. Yeah, I knew there was good reason to stay, but I moved.

[tridim]

20. If contruction barrels are $350, that's the problem.

Not the guy stealing them for his art.

Those barrels are just molded plastic with reflective tape on them. Probably cost about $10 each to manufacture.

[Blue For You]

16. The police have him over a barrel with these drummed up charges.

[KittyWampus]

19. Oy! Groaaaaaaaaaaaaan...

:D