What can you do with a Campbell’s Tomato Soup can? We have 500. Here’s a few suggestions our staff came up with, listed in the order they were received:

1. Use the soup to make “quick spaghetti.” Boil a can of tomatoes, add the soup. (Kathryn)

2. Finger-painting for kids. (Kathryn)

3. Use the soup as a face-mask. (Paul)

4. Make the can into a centerpiece at Arts Desire. (Yes, we’re doing this)

5. Make the can famous. (Warhol)

6. Tomato soup can races down Wash Ave. (Erinn)

7. Use the can as a paperweight. (Josh)

8. Make a telephone. (Josh)

9. Pieromanzoni did something with a can, but we’re not sure what.

10. Roll dough. (Josh)

11. Punch holes, put in a candle, and poof! You have a latern. (Rachel)

12. Is anyone getting married? (Rebecca)

13. Play kick the can. (Bruce)

11. Use it as a doorstop. (Lisa)

12. Kathryn has a variety of recipes (Tomato Aspic Salad, anyone) that incorporate Campbell’s Tomato Soup).  You can email her for suggestions.

13. Grow plants. (Bruce)

Well, the list goes on.  We are using them as centerpieces for Arts Desire on May 12.  That evening, we’ll let our Young Friends sponsor a can for $5 (they get to sign it) and then we donate all cans, regardless of sponsorship to Food Outreach so more can enjoy a good bowl of soup.

This week we have a lot of events scheduled. Unfortunately, one of those was just canceled. Aline Crumb will not be coming to St. Louis, and that means she will not be talking about her book Need More Love at the Contemporary. However, we have many other things to do. One is the continuation of our brown bag lunch series. It’s a rather intimate affair. Guest Curator Susan Cahan will be talking about the exhibition rather informally — asking and answering questions, all while enjoying lunch with those who join her. The brown bag tour is on Wednesday this week. Considering it’s just around Chinese New Year and Mardi Gras, we decided to do a film screening of Mardi Gras: Made in China. According to the description I received about the film, it “follows the ‘bead trail’ from the factory in China to Bourbon Street during Mardi Gras, poignantly exposing the inequities of globalization.” Considering the very flashy (literally) cover of last week’s Riverfront Times, I think this film is extremely timely and will provide an interesting perspective on disparities suffered between two cultures. It’s running time is 72 minutes for those who are curious. After the Thursday night film screening, we prepare to welcome lots of families into the space for a free family day on Saturday. In the afternoon, we guide children of all ages through making exhibition work-inspired pieces and it’s usually loads of fun.