RALEIGH, N.C. - "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.
Art lovers around the world rose up in outrage after its creator, Joseph Carnevale, a North Carolina State University history major and aspiring photographer, was busted by police in June.
His crime? Stealing the materials for his art from a road construction site.
"Barrel Monster" spoofs popped up on Web sites 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.
Although he says he appreciates the company's gesture, Carnevale, 22, considers himself a guerrilla artist. 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-tall 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 teeth Carnevale sliced from a barrel with a box cutter.
Hussey called Carnevale after his arrest to tell him that he found his work "cool."
Besides, Hussey added, "those barrels he took cost us exactly $346, and we got tens of thousands of dollars in free publicity. I'd have to say it worked out pretty well."
So well, in fact, that Hussey has asked Carnevale to resurrect "Barrel Monster" at his company's headquarters in Climax. Hussey said he recently retrieved the pieces from the Raleigh Police Department evidence room, where they had been sitting, smeared with black fingerprint powder.
Carnevale said he would be happy to help rebuild the monster for Hussey. But at the moment, he has other projects:
His condo is a work in progress, plastered with his colorful murals and photos.
"The homeowners association is being difficult," he said.