I moved to the Atwood neighborhood on the east side of Madison, Wisconsin in November 1990 and held my housewarming in January. Being a Minnesotan who does not enjoy cooking, I held what I thought would be a onetime potluck. And thus, the first Hotdish Hoedown came to pass. In addition to the casseroles, someone contributed a festive Jell-O topped with orange slices. This salad inspired me to add the Most Spectacular Jell-O Contest to the 1992 gathering.

The 1993 guest list — comprising coworkers, fellow Atwood Community Center board members, teammates and neighbors — was too large for my then 950-square-foot house, so I moved the party to the community center. Almost 30 years later, the Hoedown still revolves around good food and good company. (I often introduce friends to one another throughout the year by saying, “You’ve hoe-downed together.”) Songs are sung, including “Have you Ever Been Jell-O?”

The Jell-O contest is a staple of the Hoedown, with children who have grown up sculpting Jell-O as part of their annual routine. This 2019 show, “Hello Jell-O My Old Friend,” represents as many years and Jell-O Contest participants — children and adults — as possible.

My friends’ creativity with gelatin and props continues to amaze me. Annual categories shift from year to year, but across the decades entries have told tales, made puns, celebrated winter, showcased the use of color, worked out feelings about politics and the environment, and nurtured hope. All contestants win festive trophies cobbled together from sports awards, gelatin molds and crafting supplies — like the ones included in the exhibit.

Text is adapted from a statement published on page 23 of the Goodman Community Center’s East Side News for January-February 2019.