Michelangelo,
eat your heart out! Through May 4th, the Lakeview Square Mall has been
transformed into an art gallery of sorts, with the Canned Sculpture
Exhibit, to benefit the Food Bank of South Central Michigan. The Exhibit
includes nine sculptures stretched out along the Mall's main corridor,
including a gigantic bowling ball with three bowling pins nine feet
high, a farmer's market, a life-size Prairie Schooner and a
thought-provoking take-off on an old game show!
"This is such a fun event!" said Sherii Sherban,
of Scene Magazine, the event's sponsor. "And it's for a very good cause,
at a time where there are more households in need than ever before,"
said Dawn Harmon of Lakeview Square Mall/General Growth Properties,
event host.
This year's participating groups include: American
Federation of Federal Employees Local #1626/H-D-I Federal Center, Art
Center of Battle Creek (with help from Lakeview-Urbandale Kiwanis Club),
Baseline United Methodist Church (with help from Save-a-Lot Roosevelt
Ave.), DENSO, Kellogg Community College Tech Club, Post/Kraft Foods,
Lakeview Square Mall, Utility Workers Union of America Local
#1626/Consumers Energy, and Westlake Presbyterian Church's Youth Group.
"During a time when Michigan is leading the nation
in unemployment, leaving more households in need, it really is
heartening to see local, grassroots efforts to raise food that are so
creative and unique," said Dan Salerno, the Food Bank's Director of
Development.
The Canned Sculpture Exhibit is part of the Food
Bank's Spring Food Raiser a series of a dozen food and fundraising
events that includes the National Letter Carriers Food Drive in May.
The Food Bank of South Central Michigan
distributed 5.3 million lbs. of food via its 275-member hunger-relief
network last year. The Food Bank is a United Way Program Delivery
Partner and is a member of America's Second Harvest — The Nation's Food
Bank Network and the Food Bank Council of Michigan.
