UH students gave a helping hand one bowl at a time to Empty Bowls Houston, an organization whose mission is fight hunger.
Students attended the second annual Bowl-A-Thon, sponsored by the Department of Art, on Friday to craft and decorate bowls made out of clay.
Experience was not necessary for students to create a bowl, and supplies, such as recycled clay, were provided.
Co-chair of Empty Bowls Houston Lotus Witt, a UH alumna and ceramics affiliate artist, helped volunteers by teaching them basic techniques.
During the event, Lotus told volunteers to think of the shape of a soup bowl while crafting the clay, though all bowl shapes and sizes were accepted.
Students volunteering at the event said that they were interested in participating in a good cause.
"This is a great chance to help people that need it and also learn something that I’ve always wanted to do," biology freshman Roselyn Sagastume said.
Artists from different communities helped create Empty Bowls Houston with the purpose of feeding the hungry, Lotus said. Empty Bowls began as a grassroots organization in Burnsville, N.C.
The bowls created were donated to Empty Bowls Houston and will be sold at an event from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on May 17 at Lawndale Art Center, 4912 Main St., and the Houston Center for Contemporary Crafts, 4848 Main St.
All of the proceeds from the sale of bowls will go to the Houston Food Bank.
In 2007, UH contributed 75 bowls that totaled $1,875 in sales. Bowls will be sold for $25 at the fourth annual Empty Bowls Houston event.
Students said they were excited to attend the coming event.
"I want to go to the event in May, it’s a great way to get people involved," photography senior Melissa Sambrooks said.
Sambrooks entertained volunteers by playing guitar and made two bowls Friday.
Local artists will donate bowls made of glass, wood and paper, The Daily Cougar reported Friday.
Those attending the event in May can choose bowls and be served soup.
Live music and artists’ demonstrations will also accompany the sales.
In an effort to create awareness and gather more people interested in the cause, Empty Bowls Houston hosts a Celebrity Bowl event at the Art Center in which "artists in the community who don’t work in clay and are mainly graphic designers will apply their designs to the bowls," Lotus said.
Signature bowls will be offered this year signed by Mayor Bill White, as well as by Texans’ football and Astros’ baseball players, Lotus said.
"This is a very good encounter, it encourages students to come in and explore the studio and also to participate for a good cause for those who are unfortunate in our community," Undergraduate Advisor Cristina Viramontes-Tobola said. "I definitely encourage this to happen more often."
For more information, visit www.emptybowlshouston.org
