<lk outside today onto the bald spot today (Friday, May 15th) and you will see hundreds of bowls filling tables. You may ask yourself, “What the heck are all those beautifully crafted bowls doing there?” Well fellow Carls, let me explain. The idea for the project, called Empty Bowls, was started by an art teacher in Michigan who wanted to give student artists a chance to make a difference- in this case, by working to end world hunger. This simple concept has spread across the nation, with hundreds of art teachers, from elementary to college level, participating.
The event was brought to Carleton by Ceramics professor Kelly Connole. The bowls were thrown, trimmed and glazed by Carleton students, who work together as a community of artists to create finished products. The project provides a wonderful opportunity to build leadership and a sense of community between Carleton and Northfield. The bowls are filled with soup, cooked and donated by Carleton interest houses. The suggested donation for a bowl is $10-$15.
The donations go to support the Northfield Food Shelf, a local NGO that has built a strong relationship with Carleton through the ACT Center. Last year, Empty Bowls was able to raise an astonishing $5,425.50 for the Northfield Food Shelf. With only $15, the Food Shelf is able to purchase 60 pounds of food, for local community members in need. Let’s all help support and celebrate this wonderful project by giving a donation, getting a bowl, and eating some great soup.