Canstruction is a food charity event with a twist.
This global competition challenges architectural, engineering and construction firms, with their students, to create massive sculptures using donated food cans. When the competition ends, the display canned food is distributed to food banks for those in need. The community can view the sculptures built locally at Independence Mall through Sept. 8. “With the downturn in the economy,” Scott Ogden, president of the American Institute for Architects-Wilmington (AIA) said, “our professional organization thought Canstruction was a great way to give back to the community and assist in filling the coffers of local food banks for this fall and the holiday season.” This year, more than 150 cities are hosting Canstruction, and Wilmington joined the effort with seven participating teams. While hundreds of hours went into the design process, each team had only five hours Saturday to complete their masterpieces. “A few years ago I was involved in a time-consuming practice build-out so when the actual one took place it turned out to be a really fun time,” said Jaime Smith, associate director for AIA-Wilmington. “Even though it ran smoothly we definitely wanted to win.” “It’s an exciting event where creativity is maximized since anything goes. It’s kind of an art – taking an ordinary object and using it in a unique way to make something else. From a distance they will look like the objects made, but up close you will see it is green beans and Kool-Aid packets,” said Smith.
Winners will be announced Thursday, determined by the public and a jury’s votes. Winners then enter an international competition.