Canstruction

de.wikipedia.org

The other day while reading up on Thanksgiving math activities, I came across a group called Canstruction.  This group using art competitions across the nation to gather cans of food for food banks in a unique and entertaining way.

 

Canstruction was inspired in 1992 by a group of New York architects and engineers.  It began small but has grown to encompass the country with four different competitions from Citywide, junior, university, to custom.

Citywide is where a city chapter organizes a competition for adults to create a piece of art.  The team is encouraged to find a member from the building industry to help with the structure.  They are also responsible for purchasing all the cans of food used in the structure. At the end, there is judging and the winners get to participate in an international competition.

The junior division is for students aged 10 to 18 but the people who run it may choose whether it is competitive or noncompetitive.  Students get a chance to learn so much while creating the final structure. They are expected to fund raise enough money to purchase all the cans needed and they are encouraged to find an advisor to help them. One who knows about physics, math, architecture, or construction.

The youth event for university students can also choose if its competitive or noncompetitive.  Again they must raise money to purchase cans and look for an advisor but if they cannot, there is a basic kit with a template and instructions on making a structure.  Both the junior division and youth division require a deposit.  At the end, all canned food must be donated to a local hunger relief organization. The last is custom structures designed to promote a local business. 

 

Since its inception, the group has raised over 50 million pounds of food for donation. If you do a search, you can find all sorts of creations from Bugs Bunny to a can of Spam, to a mostly eaten apple, to one of the Despicable.  

I was impressed with the engineering and creativity involved in each sculpture.  Check them out and enjoy their creations.  Let me know what you think.