District News

High School art class uses talent to fight hunger

 

December, 2010

 

Kathy Van Loan’s art class at Canajoharie High School is using its talents to fight hunger.

Her students are throwing and painting ceramic bowls as part of the Empty Bowls, a campaign aimed at fighting hunger and raising awareness about world hunger. The finished works will be part of the Fifth Annual "Empty Bowls" Luncheon on March 5 at the Vet’s Club in Cooperstown.

For a $15 donation, attendees will select a bowl from which to eat. For some students, however, the bowls have become a labor of love; so rather than giving up their bowls, they can donate $15 to keep it.

“The students are taking this project very seriously,” said Mrs. Van Loan. “It’s really good for them because it combines a lot of different things and it’s for a good cause.”

The project combines elements of pottery making, painting and drawing and gives students a chance to personalize their work. The art students used a range of designs on their bowls from Egyptian symbols to stars. Senior Kelly Gallagher opted for drawing eyes – an object she’s learned to perfect.

“I like drawing eyes because their difficult. Overall, it’s a great project because we have time to put into it,” she said. “I might just keep my bowl…we’ll see.”

Empty Bowls luncheons began in 1990 when a Detroit art teacher looked for a way to raise money for his school's food drive. His ceramics students threw and decorated 120 bowls, one for each staff member in the school. After serving everyone a luncheon of bread and soup, the teacher's wife shared some facts about local hunger.

She then invited everyone to keep their bowls as a reminder of the empty bowls around the world. The idea quickly caught on and Empty Bowls events are now held all over the world.

MaryAnn Nellis is a local potter who created the bowls for the students to decorate. She volunteers her time every day to come to CHS and work with the ceramic students..