GSW’s ‘Empty Bowls’ 11th annual event set for Nov. 2 to combat local hunger

AMERICUS, GA (October 28, 2024) — Faculty and students in the Department of Visual Arts at Georgia Southwestern State University (GSW) are joining forces with Harvest of Hope Food Pantry and local restaurants for the 11^th annual ‘Empty Bowls’ fundraiser event, a community-driven effort to combat hunger in Sumter County. The event is set for Sat, Nov. 2, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the Harvest of Hope Food Pantry, 606 McGarrah St., Americus, GA.

This year, over 200 hand-crafted ceramic bowls will be available with a minimum donation of $25 each. With a bowl purchase, attendees will receive a voucher for a complimentary soup or ice cream, redeemable at participating local restaurants: Pat’s Place, Little Brothers Bistro and Cafe, Scoops, and Sweet Georgia Bakery, while supplies last.

Sponsored by GSW’s Department of Visual Arts, ceramics program, and Artists United—the department’s student-run organization—the ‘Empty Bowls’ initiative channels the creativity of the arts into meaningful impact for hunger relief. Proceeds collected from this event will benefit Harvest of Hope Food Pantry with a portion supporting GSW visual art students.

Harvest of Hope was founded in 2013 by Sonny and Ginger Pinckard, and is now under the direction of Chris and Rhonda Slocumb. Rhonda, an associate professor in the GSW School of Nursing shared, “Harvest of Hope provides over 600 boxes of food each month, supporting 600+ households in need. This food is vital to the wellbeing of so many in our community and does so much to fight against food insecurity in our region.” Students in the School of Nursing will also be volunteering at the event.

Creating a handmade bowl is a time-intensive process that requires considerable skill and artistry. Each bowl goes through multiple stages: forming on the potter’s wheel, drying, bisque firing, hand-mixing glazes, glazing, and a final glaze firing at an intense 2,350°F. Often, handcrafted bowls like those available at this event would sell for far more than the minimum donation, reflecting the artistry and dedication involved in each piece.

“We hope to have a good turnout this year as we will be taking a break from this project to develop a new effort ‘Koinonia Kups’ which we hope will also support Harvest of Hope but be available year-round,” Ceramics Professor Keaton Wynn observed. “Students should recognize both the cultural and economic value of creating meaningful work from raw material. Community efforts like this are a core value we share even while we continue to develop professional practices. It is important for students to understand the significance of efforts like this, but also understand what it takes to have a career in the field.”    

Bowls available this year are made by GSW students Noah Miller, Alexis Glass, Kayla Crisp, Abbie Jackson, Dulce Sarmiento, Ivon Perez, Emeritus Professor Ralph Harvey, and GSW Professor Keaton Wynn.