This year the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona has turned to four clever “monsters” to support their summertime food drive at Park Place Mall. The dominant canned food used to create these fantasy sculptures was — no surprise–Chicken of the Sea tuna in several varieties.
The image at the top of this page is of the Kraken, created with cans of wild caught tuna. Pork and beans gave shape to the boat beside the Kraken. Canned pineapple suggests waves.
A not-very-formidable Dragon greets visitors and shoppers near the entrance to the mall. The painted image on the backdrop behind this green dragon is lovely.
While canned tuna may rule with two of these fantasy creatures, earthy brown Manwich, canned green beans, and sweet peas also had places in the sculpture, below. This was identified as a “jackalope”, but I find it difficult to see a jack rabbit, although the antelope horns are obvious.
And rounding out the four sculptures in the center of the mall, is Nessie the Loch Ness monster, below. Like the kraken, she’s a creature made of Chicken of the Sea tuna. This time the cans are filled with chunk tuna in water instead of “wild caught.”
I had brought along a couple of cans of food and a box of pasta, but couldn’t find any place to leave them. Signs at each sculpture encouraged people to donate $1 by smart phone to vote for the best display. I think the kraken might be this year’s winner, but Nessie is a real cutie, too. This display will end on July 10th, and I would guess that the winner(s) would be announced soon after.
I rarely go to malls these days, but the Park Place Mall is special. I love the grandeur of the architecture, the murals on the walls, and the sculpture back in the Food Court. I just wish the frozen yogurt shop had a better variety of flavors.
If you are a Tucsonan and would like a starter tree for $5, go here for more details.
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