High protein, canned tuna “is like gold” to the Rhode Island Community Food Bank due to its high nutritional value, said public relations manager Michael Cerio. So it was no surprise that canned tuna was a primary construction material in many of the sculptures that were part of the “Canstruction” sculpture exhibit on display last month at the Providence Place mall.
The exhibit included six sculptures, made by teams from Rhode Island businesses, comprised of more than 17,400 pounds of canned goods. When the exhibit was deconstructed last month, more than 20,000 canned items with a retail value of $30,000 were donated to the food bank.
In addition to “thousands and thousands” of cans of tuna, the food bank received a healthy supply of canned vegetables, fruits and soups, Cerio said.
The exhibit was organized by the Young Constructors Forum of the Rhode Island Associated General Contractors and the American Institute of Architects of Rhode Island.
Participating businesses included:
Saccoccio & Associates, “Extinguish Hunger”; Lerner/Ladds + Bartels, Odeh Engineers and Shawmut Design and Construction, “Stay-Puft Marshmellow Can”; Dimeo Construction Company, “Drive-In to End Hunger”; Donald Powers Architects, “Lighting a Fire for Hunger”; Newport Collaborative Architects, “Who can Recycle?” and Robinson Green Beretta/Gilbane Building Co., “The Providence Skyline – Casting a Shadow on Hunger.” •
