2008 Woodie Awards
The Empty Bowls Project Helps to Raise $20,000 to Feed the Hungry
Elizabeth Fields
Issue date: 2/9/05 Section: Features
Everyone remembers fifth-grade art class - the forty-five minutes a week that included exciting media such as fuzzy velvet paper, papier mache, and a dozen colors of glaze for that handmade bowl. At this point, most of those handmade bowls are probably relaxing in the bottom of a box in the attic.
Fortunately, several organizations have come up with uses for those bowls that might ordinarily sit around collecting dust, including the Beans & Bread Outreach Center of the St. Vincent de Paul church of Baltimore.
Allyn Massey, a Goucher Associate Professor of Art, said she got an email from Beans & Bread last semester, asking for donations of handmade ceramic bowls and serving dishes to be auctioned off as a fundraiser.
The "empty bowls" are meant to represent those people whose bowls go empty each day, according to the notice that Beans & Bread circulated. "I had no idea who they were," Massey confessed. "But it turned out they were a shelter in Fells Point, and they asked if we would like to participate. So I contacted them and said yes."
Massey said that at first she had Beans & Bread's Empty Bowls project confused with a similar volunteer effort sponsored by the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts, which is holding its 2005 convention in Baltimore in March.
Goucher art students participated in the NCECA's project "a couple years ago," according to Massey.
There is also a national "Empty Bowls" project, in which participants often sell the bowls and fill them with soup as part of a dinner/fundraiser event. Participants nationwide donate amateur pottery for the effort.
"We ended up with lots of people who offered to make things, about 15 students," Massey said. "For many of them, it was their first attempt at making something to give away, a contribution to the community."
Participants included Cedar Lee '05, Sarah Walters '05, Krystle Ruberto '05, Alexis Fields '04, Mollie Schlapp-Gilgoff '04, Kirsten Besheer '06, and Penina Gal '05. Massey had a number of positive things to say about all of their work.
Fortunately, several organizations have come up with uses for those bowls that might ordinarily sit around collecting dust, including the Beans & Bread Outreach Center of the St. Vincent de Paul church of Baltimore.
Allyn Massey, a Goucher Associate Professor of Art, said she got an email from Beans & Bread last semester, asking for donations of handmade ceramic bowls and serving dishes to be auctioned off as a fundraiser.
The "empty bowls" are meant to represent those people whose bowls go empty each day, according to the notice that Beans & Bread circulated. "I had no idea who they were," Massey confessed. "But it turned out they were a shelter in Fells Point, and they asked if we would like to participate. So I contacted them and said yes."
Massey said that at first she had Beans & Bread's Empty Bowls project confused with a similar volunteer effort sponsored by the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts, which is holding its 2005 convention in Baltimore in March.
Goucher art students participated in the NCECA's project "a couple years ago," according to Massey.
There is also a national "Empty Bowls" project, in which participants often sell the bowls and fill them with soup as part of a dinner/fundraiser event. Participants nationwide donate amateur pottery for the effort.
"We ended up with lots of people who offered to make things, about 15 students," Massey said. "For many of them, it was their first attempt at making something to give away, a contribution to the community."
Participants included Cedar Lee '05, Sarah Walters '05, Krystle Ruberto '05, Alexis Fields '04, Mollie Schlapp-Gilgoff '04, Kirsten Besheer '06, and Penina Gal '05. Massey had a number of positive things to say about all of their work.