Whatever the reason was — whether it was the feeling of helping others or scoring a bowl handmade by a troupe of talented local artists and young children — quite the long line was forming outside of the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft for entry into the Eighth Annual Empty Bowls Houston fundraiser.
When the doors opened there was nothing stopping the bowl-a-thon frenzy. More than 900 guests picked their personal favorite from thousands of bowls to take home as reminder of those who often forgo sustenance due to financial hardship. Those beautiful empty bowls bear an ugly truth beyond what their attractive exteriors reveal.
Table after table lined the galleries of the craft center, each spread with a rainbow of vibrant bowls forged from wood, ceramic, glass, mixed-media and a long list of other materials. A banner assembled by students at Small Steps Nurturing Center, many of whom receive aid from the Houston Food Bank, gave thanks to the smiths and volunteers who made this yearly gathering happen.
Chaired by Tom Perry, this event’s record-setting $66,000 in monies raised for the Houston Food Bank translates to 200,000 meals.
In the first exhibit hall were the contributions of Steve Campbell, Angel Oloshove, Renee LeBlanc, Clark Kellogg, Karen Fiscus and Mak Taing, a group who challenged themselves to donate 100 or more bowls to the cause.
At $25 a pop for a one-of-a-kind handmade artisan bowl and lunch, it is a steal. Donors who had more green to give opted to upgrade for one of the more intricate creations.
Livening the outdoor ambiance were the tunes of Tyagaraja, The Literary Greats and Kevin Kendrick, bagpiper Matthew Drecun with guitarist Zach Goodrick, craft demonstrations, a henna artist and a handful whimsical performers. Patrons savored a simple midday repast of soup and bread from Whole Foods Market and dessert courtesy of Blue Bell Ice Cream.
Chaired by Tom Perry, this event’s record-setting $66,000 in monies raised for the Houston Food Bank translates to 200,000 meals for locals.
