See San Francisco Landmarks Made from Canned Food at the Metreon

By Keith Bowers Fri., Jun. 24 2011 at 4:00 PM

Categories: Art, Art This Weekend, Preview, Public Art

While you're checking out various queer pride events this weekend, stop by the Metreon to see S.F. Canstruction. It's a competition. It's a sculpture race. It's a benefit. And it's all made from canned food. In the time-lapse video clip above, watch the building of an SFMOMA replica called I Left My Art in San Francisco, which won an honorable mention. Read on to see a similar video of the Transamerica Pyramid called CANsamerica.

What is S.F. Canstruction? It's a project to raise money and food for the San Francisco Food Bank. The contestants are engineers, designers, architects, and contractors. The material they have to work with is canned (and otherwise packaged) food. The goal is to make sculptures -- big sculptures -- in the time frame of a single day.

It's the first time the nationwide food drive and fundraiser has come to San Francisco. According to the promoters, all the food used in the 14 sculptures was donated, and it will all go to the San Francisco Food Bank when the exhibit closes. Awards have been given for structural ingenuity, best use of labels, and (this is our favorite) best meal.

According to Lauren Sherman of ZFA Structural Engineers, which is leading the effort, there's absolutely no adhesive allowed. So our biggest question is: How did they get some of these things to stand up and hold together? But no one is saying. You know engineers and architects. They do have their trade secrets.

S.F. Canstruction is open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. -- but it's here only through Sunday (June 26) -- at the Metreon, 101 Fourth St. (at Mission). Admission is free (but donations of money or canned food are encouraged).

For more events in San Francisco this week and beyond, check out our calendar section.

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