by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
The 10th annual “Canstruction” design-build competition will be a feature of the May First Wednesday Art Walk. Three designs have been constructed this year at the Landing near Village Bread Café.
Teams of architects, designers and engineers from Bergmann and Associates, Haskell and HDR Engineering Inc. entered their designs made with cans and boxes of nonperishable food.
The event raises awareness and donations for the Second Harvest North Florida food bank. On May 13, the designs will be disassembled and the food donated to Second Harvest North Florida.
Lori Trudeau, a member of the Haskell team, said the team designed its garden gnome and assembled it in the lobby at work to make sure it was stable and had the right look. She said Haskell has participated in the competition every year since it debuted in Jacksonville.
Members of the public may vote for their favorite entry during Art Walk to determine this year’s People’s Choice Award.
A panel of judges including Karen Rieley, interim executive director of Second Harvest North Florida; Holly King, president of the Jacksonville chapter of the American Institute of Architects; and Blakely Ainsworth, public relations and marketing coordinator at the Landing, will select the awards for structural integrity, best use of labels, best meal and juror’s favorite.
In 2010, “Canstruction” generated 5,083 pounds of food for Second Harvest North Florida, which equates to nearly 4,000 meals for needy families. The food bank distributes food to more than 400 nonprofit agencies in 18 North Florida counties
In its nine previous years, the competition has helped raise more than 100,000 pounds of food for hungry people in the area.
Other highlights of First Wednesday Art Walk this week, with the theme “Mixed Media for Mother Earth,” include:
• Love ur Mother 2011, a festival of food and fashion at Hemming Plaza.
• “Organic Vintage” alternative process photography at Thomas Hager Town Editions gallery inside the SunTrust Building.
• The grand opening of Burro Bar, formerly London Bridge Pub.
• Artist Pamela Miller, who designed this year’s Jacksonville Jazz Festival poster, will sign her work at Snyder Memorial.
• The 4th annual Children’s Juried Art Show at The Art Center II on Hogan Street.
• Free Skyway rides 5-10 p.m.
For more details, visit www.downtownjacksonville.org.
356-2466