For three weeks, sculptural construction pieces built entirely of stacked arrangements of canned and non-perishable packaged foods will be exhibited throughout Cincinnati.

It is the sixteenth year for CANstruction, a national competition.

The event kicks off Feb. 19 at the Cincinnati Arts Association’s Weston Art Gallery in the Aronoff Center for the Arts. It includes satellite locations at Macy’s downtown, the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County downtown branch, the Contemporary Arts Center, and the Scripps Center on Walnut Street.

Teams begin building at 8 a.m. that day and have five hours to unpack and create sculptures. Judging takes place Feb. 20.

CANstruction is sponsored by the Cincinnati chapters of the American Institute of Architects and the Society for Design Administration.

All canned and packaged food used is donated to the Freestore Foodbank, which supplies emergency food and services in the Tri-state region. Food is distributed at the conclusion of the display.

More than 500 million pounds of food has been given to the Freestore Foodbank since Cincinnati joined the CANstruction mission. Canned goods are accepted from the public at any of the exhibit sites.

Click here to see video of GBBN Archtiects creating a Kool-Aid themed can sculpture in the 2012 CANstruction competition.