Right Juris

Traffic Barrel Monster creator Joseph Carnevale faces destruction of property and larceny charges. Read all about it, see a photo of Carnevale’s work of art and a video below.

Traffic Barrel Monster

A North Carolina State University history major is not only a graffiti artist who goes by the alias “U Live And You Burn” is also a thrill seeker. Carnevale is known for cable climbing his way to the top of the Brooklyn Bridge at night, for freight train hopping and for his 1997 Volkswagon Jetta covered in beer bottle tops he hot glued to cover his car. Carnevale has also created other street art projects using construction barrels and street cones.

The Traffic Barrel Monster who was spotted by locals hanging out on Hillborough Street. It stood 10 feet tall and was simply trying to hitch a ride. Even though some locals found the new resident hitchhiker amusing the authorities were not as entertained.

The Barrel Monster idea came to Joseph one morning while in class. He couldn’t shake the idea of it, so an hour and a half and three altered construction barrels later, Joseph went to Hillsborough Street to assemble his masterpiece. Later that night the town was greeted by the new 10 foot tall hitchhiker appropriately dubbed “The Barrel Monster”. Carnevale saw his Barrel Monster as street art where as the Raleigh Police only saw it as vandalism. That’s why the police disassembled the hitchhiker and took in the parts, thumb and all, as evidence which later lead to the arrest of 21 year old Joseph Carnevale on June 10, 2009.

The barrels were stolen from the construction company Hamlin Associates. The President of Hamlin Associates, Steven Hussey stated “We’ve had a fair amount of vandalism, but never had anyone turn it into art. I actually thought it was pretty neat.” The company does not want to press any charges against Carnevale for stealing the barrels, which cost them approximately $365 dollars. Instead Hussey has offered to possibly pay Joseph to make another ‘The Barrel Monster’. The positive publicity for the company has more than reimbursed them the amount of money the stolen barrels cost the company.

Joseph Carnevale will have to appear in court July 21, 2009 in Wake County to face charges of larceny and destruction of property, both misdemeanors.

I say if you have a talent to look at such an ordinary, everyday object and turn it into a work of art then I give you two thumbs up! Or in this case, one thumb out.

A photo and video of Joseph Carnevale and The Barrel Monster is below.

Joseph Carnevale Mug Shot

Joseph Carnevale, Traffic Barrel Monster - Video