“Empty Bowls” is an international project to fight hunger, personalized by artists and art organisations on a community level. The promotion and growth of the project was originally managed by The Imagine/RENDER Group, a 5013 organization. It is now managed by Empty Bowls LLC, a 5013 organization. Each community’s events are independent. The project expands one group of concerned artists and students at a time, and events take place in many areas in the United States, Canada and around the world, often in conjunction with the United Nations sponsored World Food Day. “Empty Bowls” now supports food related charities around the world.
Charitable concept
Empty Bowls allows participating artists and groups to create and donate bowls, then serve a simple meal. In some communities, ceramic artists are joined by wood turners, glassblowers, fiber artists, metal smiths, painters, sculptors, and other artists and craftspeople. In most cases guests choose a bowl to use that day and to keep as a reminder of all the empty bowls in the world. The artists often work in conjunction with local restaurants, groceries, and kitchens to provide a variety of foods for the attendees to sample. This is an art event to support local food related charities around the world.
Project development
This project was founded by Lisa Blackburn and art teacher John Hartom in 1990-91 when they joined a drive to raise charitable funds in Hatrom's Michigan community. His idea was to organize a charitable event to give artists and art students a way to make a personal difference. Hartom's students made ceramic bowls in their high school art classes. The finished products were then used as serving pieces for a fund-raising meal of soup and bread. Contributing guests kept the empty bowl. During the next year, Hartom and other participants developed this concept into the Empty Bowls project. The Imagine/RENDER Group, a 5013 organisation, was created to promote the project. With the passing of John Hartom the Empty Bowls domain names registrations were put up for sale. They are now owned by Empty Bowls LLC a 5013 organization in Houston, TX. The Empty Bowls LLC was incorporated in 2019 by LeRoy Grubbs. The purpose and idea of the Empty Bowls event remains the same and continues to grow each year with events around the world. For more information send LeRoy a note at emptybowls.net and google "Empty Bowls" to find and support events in your area. Think Globally, Act Locally.
