"There are people in the world so hungry, that God cannot appear to them except in the form of bread."
~Charles Dickens
Empty Bowls is a local community event for the local hunger prevention task force. For just $10 you get to select a bowl that was created by a community member... it could have been painted by a boy scout troop... or thrown on a wheel at the local senior center... or coil built by some preschoolers. Then you go through the line and get a simple meal of soup {provided by some of the best restaurants in town}, a small roll, a glass of milk and a cookie. Then you take that special one-of-a-kind bowl home as a reminder that:
I was inspired by Japanese chiyogami papers that I was working with at the time. I saw them all piled on top of one another and that is what I was attempting to do... make it look like different patterns are peeking out. They wrap just over the edge of the bowl to a white bottom. The colors are quite bright {and truthfully look a bit garish in these pictures} so I hope that it goes to a high bidder.
I would encourage you to find ways to help your hunger prevention efforts in your own community by giving to a local food pantry, or volunteering time to serve a meal at the Salvation Army or Place of Peace, or even bidding on a bowl for a good cause.
So... what do you think?
If you were to go hungry for a day... a week... a month... what would you miss the most?
Is there a hunger gnawing at you right now? Could it be more than just life-giving food?
Are there any hunger initiatives in your area that you could get more involved in?
Tell me what you are thankful for... I would love to know!
Do tell!
Enjoy the day!
~Charles Dickens
Empty Bowls is a local community event for the local hunger prevention task force. For just $10 you get to select a bowl that was created by a community member... it could have been painted by a boy scout troop... or thrown on a wheel at the local senior center... or coil built by some preschoolers. Then you go through the line and get a simple meal of soup {provided by some of the best restaurants in town}, a small roll, a glass of milk and a cookie. Then you take that special one-of-a-kind bowl home as a reminder that:
Someone's Bowl is Always Empty
There is an auction at this event. I have donated jewelry in the past {I am feeling bad that I didn't this year...}. Some of the artists at Gallery Q in downtown Stevens Point decided to paint some larger bowls for a special auction. I just found out that the bowls are actually up for auction on eBay. You can view my bowl there {and bid on it if you are so inclined} with the bidding going for the next week.
I was inspired by Japanese chiyogami papers that I was working with at the time. I saw them all piled on top of one another and that is what I was attempting to do... make it look like different patterns are peeking out. They wrap just over the edge of the bowl to a white bottom. The colors are quite bright {and truthfully look a bit garish in these pictures} so I hope that it goes to a high bidder.
I would encourage you to find ways to help your hunger prevention efforts in your own community by giving to a local food pantry, or volunteering time to serve a meal at the Salvation Army or Place of Peace, or even bidding on a bowl for a good cause.
So... what do you think?
If you were to go hungry for a day... a week... a month... what would you miss the most?
Is there a hunger gnawing at you right now? Could it be more than just life-giving food?
Are there any hunger initiatives in your area that you could get more involved in?
Tell me what you are thankful for... I would love to know!
Do tell!
Enjoy the day!
7 comments:
Erin, what a wonderful way to help! I haven't heard of that sort of event before, but I love it! What a phenomenal way to raise awareness, help those in need, and meet other people with huge hearts also helping! I'm headed over right now to Ebay to check out the bowls! :)
xo
What a great idea! It is always important for us, as artists to give back in what ever way we are able. I think that is an amazing event!
Hunger is one of those problems that I can simply not tolerate in humankind. There is more than enough food to feed everyone on this planet in abundance. So many right here in the US, as well as across the globe. I've been rereading The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver. One of the points that has struck me most in my rereading that I missed the first time is the hunger that she describes. I've been told that I need to read, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle next.
It resonates with me that hunger is almost always tied with poverty. To not have enough to eat has never been my experience in my life and for that I am extremely fortunate. Even when I have not had any money at all, which I don't currently have either, I have never ever been hungry. ever. But that is a reality for most of the world's population. And that makes me so sad. That even as a person with little money, I am still well fed.
I love those bright colors! Food drives to stock the local food pantry are very active here. It's even easy to donate when you do your regular shopping. Most stores have a donation bin at the exit. So we buy extra canned goods and pop them in as we head for the car. I am fortunate to be able to eat well and this little exercise helps me to be mindful of that and mindful of those who worry where the food will come from, one meal to the next. It's not the solution to ending hunger, but every wee bit helps.
What a beautiful way to help the hungry! Even in our tiny little town we have many ways to help those in need such as handing out bags of groceries once a month, meals on wheels, a community help program that provides packaged food when needed, and more. I help as much as I can, but I know it is never enough.
I can't imagine going hungry, or even missing one meal for that matter. We are truly blessed. It is our duty to help those less fortunate.
Erin,
That bowl is so happy!
Later this month, the confirmation group at our church will be having a "box night"...where they sleep in boxes (and get just some soup to eat) overnight...and as part of that - raise money for our food pantry and for people in need in the community. I think it's a great way to help build awareness within our youth about what being homeless and hungry is..
Thanks so much for all you do, Erin, in making our world such a more beautiful place...
Erin, this is such a wondeful idea - bringing together your community and including artists and chefs alike. Your bowl is beautiful. Fortunately the kid's schools have drives quite frequently so it is easy to find a way locally to give back - and the kids are involved as well.
I wish that our community did something like that. In the past I have had to rely on food banks and I always try to give back at this time of the year.
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