Jaunted

If you follow the letter of the law, then Banksy is no less a violator than someone who draws a wang on a Dr. Zizmor poster. Most people recognize Banksy as an artist, but it opens a whole new can of worms when the state gets into the business of defining what art is.

As for Carnevale's (alleged) art, I like it. In addition to the Barrel Monster, there's also a Barrel-and-Cone alligator, and a couple of single-barrel angry mouths admonishing drivers and walkers alike. He certainly didn't invent the concept of repurposing everyday objects into art, but he's good at what he does. His creations remind me of those muffler sculptures that are famous in LA's muffler district. Carnevale might be a vandal on some level, but he's also got a gift for transforming the most utilitarian of objects into something alive and animated. Yeah, it's probably illegal, but so was Philippe Petit's high-wire walk between the Twin Towers back in 1974, and who reading this wishes he hadn't done it? (Related: Put Man on Wire on your Netflix queue. It's good!)

We'll see what happens after Carnevale's court date on July 21, but hopefully he'll create some artwork on the right side of the law so people have more than 24 hours to enjoy it. There's got to be a gallery or public space in Raleigh willing to give this guy a chance, right?

[Photo: No Promise of Safety]

Related Stories:
· No Promise of Safety [Official Site]
· The Barrel Monster Lives! [sub5zero.com]
· Traffic Barrel Monster Creator Arrested [Jalopnik]
· Street Art Coverage [Jaunted]