Bowled Over

I know I’ve mentioned this before but it bears repeating.

I have NO artistic talent whatsoever.  When it comes to drawing, painting, sculpting or throwing a pot, you’ll have to excuse me.

I STINK at any form of arts and crafts.

I’m also sorry to report that both my kids inherited my UnRembrandt gene.  Whenever they came home with their latest drawing, I would stare at it in frustration and give up.

“What is it?” I’d ask, baffled.

My ex- who had been down the parenthood road before with three grown daughters- used to reprimand me.

“You’re supposed to say ‘Tell me about it.'”

But the ghastly melanges they’d come up with inevitably prompted the “What is it?” response from me whenever they’d proudly proffer their latest piece of handicraft.

Sound harsh?

Take a look at this bowl that Natasha made in the fifth grade.

I rest my case.

Which leads me to some bowls of an entirely different nature…

As you can see, on Friday, April 15, my friends at LillStreet Art Center held their ninth annual fundraiser “Empty Bowls.”  The Empty Bowls Project is a nation-wide endeavour using ceramic artists to fight hunger.

It’s such a neat event and such a worthy cause that I gladly rubbed shoulders with the artists as they used their talents to raise money to feed the hungry here in Chicago.

Here’s how it works.  (So you can get in line early for next year.)

Empty Bowls is a world-wide grass roots movement that raises awareness and dollars for the needy all over America.  “Everybody Eats” is their motto, and for the last twenty-five years, artists like potters, sculptors and metal-workers have donated their time and talent to this end.

At LillStreet, it is a joint venture between the studio, the artists and the center’s on-site “First Slice” Cafe. 

LillStreet donates the clay, the artists donate their talent, First Slice makes and donates the dinner of yummy soup and fabulous bread, and it all comes together when the public lines up around the block to get a crack at buying beautiful bowls for the bargain basement price of $25.

All the monies raised then go to feed the hungry here at home.

This year the do-gooders/art lovers/bargain hunters were out in force.

400 bowls were sold.

Quickly.

Some people filled their bowls with First Slice soup.  Some just gazed upon their new treasures with glee.

But everyone felt just great.  They got to do good, eat well and do well all at the same time.

The “Empty Bowls” concept at LillStreet is beautiful because it’s simple, right?

Tell me about it.