Art Students and Faculty Give Big at "Empty Bowls" Fundraising Event

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By Sophia Apteker '23

A group of students and faculty members from the College of Humanities & Fine Arts Art Department generously donated 30 handmade bowls to the 15th Annual Empty Bowls fundraising event in April, which raised money to help support the Amherst Survival Center food and nutrition programs that serve almost 7,500 food-insecure residents in Hampshire and Franklin Counties.  

“I participated in part because it’s just the right thing to do being in a position of privilege that allows me to give back,” says Henry Prentiss, a senior majoring in studio art. “I also think part of me would rather give away all of my work to those who would appreciate it most rather than to whoever can pay for it. This is especially true when it comes to something as pragmatic as pottery. It’s a challenging thing to balance but I have no issue donating a few things when I have no reason not to.” 

Prentiss worked on the project alongside assistant professor in the School of Public Policy Viviana Chiu Sik Wu; senior lecturer in the Art Department Cynthia Constantino; ceramics technician Evelyn Snyder; and students Anna Cincotta, Ace Harrill, Jessi Johnson, Linda Nguyen, Katya Obeid, and Clive Rudolph, all of whom created and donated handmade ceramic bowls to be auctioned off during the event.  

“The reason I create pottery is to bring joy and hope to those who use it,” says Wu. “Despite the chaos and trauma in the world, pottery symbolizes a process of renewal where everything, like clay, can be transformed into something beautiful both inside and out. My vision aligns with the mission of the Empty Bowls project, and I hope that the person who receives my bowl will feel comforted and cared for. I gifted a rose bowl, which I created using a handmade bisque mold I crafted. As I continue to grow as a ceramic artist, I plan to share more of my work with people in need and experiencing trauma.” 

Learn more about the Empty Bowls fundraiser here: https://amherstsurvival.org/donate/special-events/emptybowls