Four hours and 130 plus bowls later, five volunteers from the Northern Michigan Potters and Sculptors Guild deemed their idea a success.
More than 100 people of all ages and abilities stopped by the Art Center in Traverse City to help make bowls, which will be sold next month during the Empty Bowls Project to raise funds for the Fresh Food Partnership. Working with either earthware clay or terra cotta while wielding stamps, embossing tools and bamboo skewers, each bowl reflected its maker's vision and creativity.
"I've never worked with clay before," said Tara Bailey of Peshawbetown, who attended the event with her daughter, sister and niece. "It's interesting, different, messy."
Her daughter, Tayla, 9, loves art — especially painting — enjoyed the day of clay despite the mess.
"It was fun making our own designs," she noted.
Attendees learned the basics of pinch pots, coils and shaping from the volunteers and each other as they threw themselves into the task. The personality of each of the 130 bowls varied as much as their shapes and sizes: some had hearts, flowers or fruits, one coil pot had a snake at the rim while other bowls featured designs, words, letters or cut outs.
"What was great is I taught
the first three who came in how to make pinch pots and then they taught others," said Pamela Dueweke, president of the guild.
Dueweke and the volunteers took the pots home, where they will air dry for a few weeks. They then plan to glaze them with donated glazes before firing them. All the works will be included in the Empty Bowls Project's line-up at the Park Place Dome on April 23. The bowls from the workshops will join hundreds of donated works by area artists for sale that day.
Last year the Empty Bowls Project raised about $6,000 for the Fresh Food Partnership, which purchases produce from area farmers at market price and donates it to area food pantries, shelters and meal centers.
"It's wonderful and brings a lot of different people together for a good cause," said Laura Otwell of Traverse City, a member of the guild.
Founded in 2003, the Empty Bowls Project has tapped area artists for bowls to sell at the annual event. Last year the event featured more than 500 works for sale, as well as a range of soups and breads for attendees to enjoy before taking their purchases home.
This year, members of the guild decided to invite the public to lend a hand in the creation process. After four intense hours helping everyone who showed up and almost running out of clay, they deemed it a rousing success. As they cleaned up, volunteers were already noting plans to make it better for next year.
"This has been a more than successful event," noted Dueweke.
The inherent warmth of clay and the ease with which even a novice can create a piece made it an excellent medium for a public workshop.
"People love clay, it's so impressionable," said Rachel Jones, a member of the guild and a professional artist who volunteered for the day. "We charmed them with the idea of making their mark in the clay."
The Empty Bowls event will be held on Sunday, April 23, from 11:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the Park Place Dome; admission is $15 and proceeds will benefit the Fresh Food Partnership.