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Hope full for Empty Bowls

The House of Blessing is holding an Empty Bowls fundraiser Saturday that it hopes will continue as an annual event.

The empty bowls concept originated with a Michigan art teacher and his students back in 1990-91 and has become a popular fundraising model for food banks. Essentially, community artists and crafters are invited to make and/or decorate bowls which are then offered for sale along with an accompanying meal.

Buyers get to keep the bowls as reminders of their contribution in their community or in the world at large.

Theresa McMurray, executive director of the House of Blessing, said more than 200 bowls are being made available for this Saturday's event through the Clay Cafe on York Street.

The project is being supported through a seed grant applied for via the Ontario Association of Food Banks, she said.

On Wednesday afternoon, half a dozen bowl artists were at the York Street studio painting bowls or adding colour to bowls they had begun decorating earlier.

Individuals on their own as well as members of various community groups and businesses have been painting bowls during the past couple of months, said Clay Cafe owner Jen Gravel.

Artists have about 120 colours to choose from and the designs are also entirely of their own choosing, so each finished bowl is unique.

High school students and members of a Stratford women's dragon boat team have been among those who have painted bowls.

Once the coloured glazes are dry, Ms. Gravel applies a clear glaze over the containers and fires them in a kiln for 16-20 hours. The treatment seals the earthenware, brings up the colours and renders the containers safe for food.

Lori Dolson, a dragon boat team member, was among those decorating a bowl yesterday.
"It's like art therapy for me," she said as she was applying finishing touches to the "splotch" pattern she began earlier.

With a donation of $12 in advance or $40 for a family of four participants, contributors get to choose their favourite bowl at Saturday's event, to be held at the Army, Navy and Air Force Veterans hall on Lorne Avenue starting at 11:30 a.m.

The cost at the door is $15 or $50 for a family of four. Gourmet meals to go with the bowls are being prepared by local chefs with ingredients from local producers.

Tickets are available at the House of Blessing.

Ms. McMurray said the goal of this initial fundraiser is to raise awareness, but the House of Blessing really wants to see it grow into a signature annual event.

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Stratford Beacon-Herald
Donal O'Connor
Thu Apr 8 2010