On Friday, April 15, OMC invaded Third Ward gallery space and local artists - literally - "cut the cheese for charity."

Armed with power tools, hand torches and carving implements of all kinds, 10 artists turned 40- and 80-pound blocks of medium cheddar cheese into faces, busts, clogs, animals, bowling paraphernalia, a skull and more.

Although the beer and wine flowed for hours, the real reason for the event was to raise dollars for America's Second Harvest of Wisconsin.

And raise dollars it did.

"'Cutting the Cheese for Charity' turned out to be quite a success," says Gina Styer, communications manager for America's Second Harvest, who attended the event.

Almost $1,200 was raised during the four-hour event, which is -- according to Styer -- enough dough to provide 6,977 meals to the hungry in Wisconsin.

The cheese sculptures moved the following day to Pick 'N Save Metro Market on Van Buren.

"We're thrilled to showcase the cheese sculptures," says Metro Market's Jamie Miller.

A chunky, cheesy thank you to all of the artists, sponsors and event attendees. Special thanks to the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board, Mike Gardner for use of the "Dye Building," 320 E. Buffalo, and Jeff Tersel for his help building out the space.

"We had a great time. The cheese scupltors were fun to watch, not to mention incredibly creative," says Styer.