As the weather begins to cool down, people might find comfort in a tasty bowl of steaming soup.
Instead of heading over to the nearest restaurant or supermarket, locals can enjoy a hot meal and purchase a handmade ceramic bowl while benefiting the Evansville community.
For the third year in a row, Assistant Professor of Art Alisa Holen will host Empty Bowls from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Kirby’s Fine Dining.
Holen, her students, USI alums and local volunteers worked diligently to create 1,000 hand crafted ceramic bowls for the event.
Holen said the goal was to produce more than in previous years.
“The first year, we made just over 500 bowls,” Holen said. “Last year, we made 840 bowls and sold out within an hour and a half.”
Holen was awarded a Scholarship of Engagement (SOE) Faculty Grant from Indiana Campus Compact (ICC) in 2012 for a service-learning project within her introductory ceramics courses.
“It’s not just a ceramics course anymore. It has become this other thing where you are really reaching out to the community and learning how to teach both high school kids and adults,“ Holen said.
Junior studio arts major Matt Wargel first got involved with Empty Bowls during his ceramics class in 2014.
“It’s so cool that anyone can come buy a $10 handmade bowl and get soup and bread with it, too,” he said. “That in itself is a great deal, but then the money goes to fill someone else’s bowl who really needs that meal. The event does amazing things for our community and at the same time gets people excited about art and about USI.”
Senior accounting major Erin Creasy was introduced to Empty Bowls in her beginning ceramics class, which she took as an elective.
“It is a lot of work, but the experience is like no other,” she said. “Professor Holen puts so much time and heart into this project and her students. She is one of the busiest teachers, but always high-spirited, willing to teach and caring.
Creasy said she does it for Holen and because it allows her to give back to the community.
Holen asks her students to teach others ranging from the elderly to high-school students how to craft ceramic bowls.
She said she also allows her students to decide which charity the money raised will go to.
“Generally students want to, but don’t have a lot of money to donate to charity,” Holen said. “Even donating $20 is a stretch. But if they can help someone make four bowls, that’s $40. And you’re having fun and networking.”
The money raised this year will go to United Caring Services, which provides meals and overnight shelters to the homeless and struggling individuals; as well as Aurora, which assists victims of domestic violence and child abuse; and several other hunger-based programs.
“With so little money put in(to) the project, so much can come out,” Holen said. “It’s just an all over feel good thing. Everyone can have pride in that.”
