Update 3 (6/18): Oh wow. All Things Considered, the NPR program listened to by millions of people around the world daily, picked up the story and interviewed the artist.
When it comes to the barrel monster, Carnevale says he didn't realize how expensive the barrels he used were to the company — each one, he says, costs $120. Even so, Carnevale says the company officials he spoke with weren't interested in pursuing charges.
"They'd like the sculpture back from the police department to use for advertising purposes," he says.
The Facebook group now totals more than 4,000 supporters, the story has subsequently been picked up by the AP and Washington Post, and capitalism comes through again as a new web site is attempting to profit from the hysteria by selling $30 t-shirts.
Now, you can follow updates on twitter: https://twitter.com/barrelmonster. [Hat tip: 30Threads]
. . . This is getting to be insane.
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Original Post
This is far from the student’s first stunt. It’s not even his first traffic barrel sculpture:
I understand that it would be unreasonable to expect the authorities to draw the line between simple vandalism and art (and even this work of art was
To me this is like Edward Scissorhands coming and sculpting your bushes unannounced: true, you didn’t invite him, but the final product is way better than what was there before. Besides, consider the “property” of interest here: this is not someone’s precious bushes; it is heinous orange and white striped road blemishes paid for out of the public's pocket. If our system can’t tolerate the beautification of these, then either the police take themselves too seriously, or worse, we have a system that suppresses harmless displays of imagination.
Until his work turns from constructive to destructive, throwing this man in jail would be orders of magnitude worse than any crime he has ever committed. Just read a couple of his quotes and I think you will agree:
Raleigh’s Downtown Wide Open festival provided me with some entertainment in the form of some fireworks and I sat for a bit and watched the thousands of people make their mad dash out of downtown. After watching, for some time, the ants from my high seat in the sky I proceeded getting down to business. Tonight’s climb had a mission objective: test my nerve and my faith in my climbing gear. I won’t lie and say this little maneuver failed to scare me. It did. But that’s good for you every once in a while; to get that ultra shot of adrenaline going. But in a few seconds it fades and you relax and like a bat hanging from the ceiling you lay back and look down at a world full of busy bees who scurry about pursuing activities they think are important. If they only knew.
I found it hard not to let out a mad indian war cry from my perch above the city street teaming with bar-hoppers. “Wake up! Look up! There is a whole world of adventure outside your world of cubicles and alcohol-escapism!” But I doubt they would listen.
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Now that his name and face are public, I searched the North Carolina court system website for his court date, but so far the only record with his name is a speeding violation, and that is way over in Richmond County (between Charlotte and Fayetteville). I'll keep you updated if I learn anything new.
Update 1: The N&O picks up the story. The barrels are owned by a contractor working on the Hillsborough St. renovation. Apparently, the artist has offered to pay for the barrels (estimated ~$360) and a court case is scheduled for July 21st.
Update 2: The NC State newspaper, The Technician, had a June 3 interview with the artist.
He suggests on his blog that you might be able to help by writing to the city's DA, but this is likely wishful thinking. I would love to know what the city plans on doing with the barrel monster. If it's for sale, I'd happily bid on it. If enough people express interest in purchasing the monster, perhaps it would open the city's eyes.
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Related:
No Promise of Safety (his blog)
A healthy discussion about his industrial tower painting on the New Raleigh blog
