Each year since Throwing Mud Gallery opened in 2011, we have donated 200+ bowls to the Empty Bowls fundraiser, which supports the Pierce County Emergency Food Network.
Empty Bowls is an international grassroots effort to fight hunger. The basic premise is simple: Potters and other craftspeople work with the community to create handcrafted bowls. Guests are invited to a simple meal of soup and bread. In exchange for a cash donation, guests are asked to keep a bowl as a reminder of all the empty bowls in the world.
This Emergency Food Network event is an annual ritual enjoyed by more than 500 people each year. During Empty Bowls, attendees can choose bowls to purchase for the home and for holiday gifts. After purchasing bowls, guests are served a bowl of soup (in a separate bowl) donated by local chefs.
Every year we’ve had a special get together in the studio to make bowls for donation. This year our Throw-a-Thon will be held on Saturday, Oct. 25 from 1 to 5 pm.
If you want to help, there’s several ways you can participate:
- Make bowls using your clay or donated clay. If students are making bowls for the fundraiser, they have free time in the studio that doesn’t count toward their open studio hours. (You must be able to make a bowl independently without instruction, either on the wheel or handbuilt).
- Donate 25# of clay ($13) to be used for the bowls.
- Help wax and/or glaze the bowls.
- Paint a bowl in the ‘Paint Your Own Pottery’ studio for 50% off retail price and it will be donated to the event.
- Attend the Empty Bowls fundraiser event on Saturday, November 22 from 1-3pm at Charles Wright Academy.