Filling The Bowls

I bought three bowls at this year's Empty Bowls event. It can be hard to choose, but you don't feel too bad about buying a few, since the cause is so worthy. I liked the layering of the glazes on the bowl below. I also liked these two bowls below. They're glazed similarly - but they certainly aren't exactly the same. I think they're even different clays, and the foot is trimmed differently on each. But they clearly belonged together, and I couldn't separate them. I wanted to show you how we signed the bottom of each bowl. This one is a good example - we would sign them "Empty Bowls," or "EB," and some would add "Manassas Clay." When they come out of the bisque firing, we're able to differentiate them from all the student and studio potter pieces. And as a purchaser, the signature will remind you of all the literal and figurative empty bowls that you helped to fill.

Full Bowls

Friday evening's Empty Bowls event to benefit SERVE, Inc. was a fantastic success. The potters of Manassas Clay donated over 700 bowls. Attendees walked up and down the hallway, gazing at all of the bowls, carefully choosing which one(s) they would bring home. Almost every bowl found a home. We also sold T-shirts with the Empty Bowls logo on it. I had a black one from last year, but of course I had to buy a white one this year. Looking down the hallway of bowls. Each bowl is unique.

Folks would ask me which ones I threw. It's really hard to know, since you might throw it, but someone else probably trims it, and a third person probably glazes it.

I know I touched every single bowl, however, because I wiped out each bowl after we unpacked them onto the tables. They were basically clean, but some of them had a bit of clay dust in them, and I wanted them to look their best for the crowds.

Some of the bowls had a card in them explaining the concept of Empty Bowls.

Sometimes the folks who were glazing would create sets of similar bowls.

I believe I helped to glaze this set of blue and brown bowls.

I think my mom brought home the square handbuilt bowl below.

I liked the green over the golden luster glaze. It's not a combination I would have thought of.

Some attendees did buy several matching bowls.

So many bowls to choose from.

It can't be said enough how great it is of Manassas Clay to sponsor this event by contributing the clay, the potter hours, the firings, and the glazes. I haven't heard yet how much money we raised, but when I hear, I'll post it. The event was a lot of fun, and the volunteers were incredible - generating publicity, soliciting restaurant donors, setting up the event, checking in attendees, serving the food, and cleaning up. Thanks so much to everyone who came out - your contribution to SERVE will make a real difference for families in our community. I will post pictures of the bowls I chose in my next post.

Empty Bowls

Friday, October 23rd, Open House from 4:00 p.m. -8:00 p.m. Manassas Baptist Church, The Rock Annex 8730 Sudley Road Manassas, Virginia

*** Sponsored by Manassas Clay

*** to benefit SERVE, Inc. ***

• Pick a handmade bowl to take home
• Dinner donated from numerous local restaurants
• Adults $15, children $10

***

In 1990 a high school art teacher in Michigan helped his students solve a problem. They were searching for a way to raise funds to support a food drive. What evolved was a class project to make ceramic bowls for a fund raising meal. Guests were served a simple meal of soup and bread, and were invited to keep the bowl as a reminder of hunger in the world. By the following year the originators had developed this concept into Empty Bowls, a project to provide support for food banks, soup kitchens, and other organizations that fight hunger. The Imagine/RENDER Group, a 501(c)(3) organization, was created to promote the project. Since then Empty Bowls events have been held throughout the world, and millions of dollars have been raised to combat hunger. After launching Manassas Clay in 1996, Fran Newquist and Jane Cullum wanted to give back to the community and approached SERVE about sponsoring an Empty Bowls benefit. They envisioned an evening where the community would select a hand thrown bowl and have dinner together. SERVE and Manassas Clay have been working together since early 2000 to sponsor this annual event.

Proceeds from this event will be used to provide: Food, Financial Assistance, Educational & Job Training Opportunities, Temporary Shelter, and Transitional Housing to local disadvantaged families who are experiencing economic hardships. If you are local, try to stop by. It's a wonderful event to raise funds for the needy in our community. Be sure to look for me and come say hello!

Empty Bowls

On Friday I went to Manassas Clay and participated in the kickoff throw-a-thon for Empty Bowls, an event they host for a local charity, SERVE. Empty Bowls is a national event where potters sell bowls at a dinner with soup, pasta, or food donated from area restaurants. Manassas Clay has been hosting this annual event for at least 10 years. Last year, I had only been taking classes for a month or so, but they welcomed me to the throw-a-thons, and I think that early practice and encouragement really helped my skills tremendously. I tried to go to as many as possible, and I will try to do the same this year. It's great practice, and it's for a great cause. The money they raise through selling handcrafted bowls and raffle tickets (for donated items) goes towards a well established organization that helps feed the hungry in our community (among other services they provide). I am thrilled to be a part of this event, and I'm looking forward to seeing the hundreds and hundreds of bowls we collectively throw, trim, and glaze. Last year at the dinner, I bought two bowls and a tshirt. I wear the shirt almost every time I throw as inspiration.