By Amber Jurgensen | Associate Editor
Artist Debra Bryant takes a smooth bowl from the pile of assorted vases, plates and pots and places it gently in front of her. Inspecting the tubes of paint next to her workstation, she realizes chartreuse is missing from the array of colors. Instead, she opts for a red, which she squirts on a palate and begins dabbing the paint into the shape of a strawberry on the face of the bowl.
Bryant is just one of many artists donating her talents for the second Plant City Empty Bowls fundraiser. For $10, attendees can pick out a small bowl and fill it with a hearty soup. Proceeds from lunch benefit the United Food Bank of Plant City.
Each bowl included with lunch has a unique story. Since last year, children at local schools have been shaping, firing up and painting smaller bowls for the fundraiser.
“This is to remind everyone of all the bowls that don’t get filled with food every night,” United Food Bank board member Silvia Dodson said.
Dodson was responsible for organizing the art project at schools, finding teachers and artists, gathering bowls from the schools and firing up those that didn’t make it to the kiln at school.
Pottery artists David Dye and Shawna Everidge have been going into schools and other centers to teach students how to shape and glaze their bowls. The schools that do not have their own kiln sent their bowls to Florida Brick and Clay for the final process. In the past month, bowls have poured into Florida Brick and Clay to get ready for the sale on Saturday. About 1,000 bowls have been gathered.
“I think that’s one of the most fun things about this project — the children’s involvement,” Bryant said. “A lot of times, they don’t realize issues that are out in the community, because they are so well protected. But when they get hands-on, they are able to see the issues and know they can make an impact.”
A group of artists and volunteers gathered Nov. 2, at Florida Brick and Clay to finish glazing and firing up the student bowls and paint other ceramics for the sale, which were shaped by amateur potters.
John Briggs, Jules Burt and Jossie Azorin have been creating artworks on ceramics to sell and auction off at the event on Saturday.
Many of the ceramics for sale have been created by Florida Brick and Clay President Tony Arozin. He took up pottery when he was first married. After a 30-year hiatus from art, Dodson asked him to fire of the potter’s wheel again to make pottery for Empty Bowls. Arozin designated a small part of one of Florida Brick and Clay’s warehouses as his workstation.
“It’s like a stress release,” Arozin said. “I can come in here and forget about the stresses of the day. And it’s a great way to raise money for the United Food Bank.”
Last year the event raised about $6,000 for the United Food Bank. This year the goal is to raise $10,000.
Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com.
IF YOU GO
Second Annual Plant City Empty Bowls
WHEN: 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Nov. 10
WHERE: Historic Downtown Train Depot
COST: $10 for lunch and bowl
Don’t forget to browse through art while eating your lunch. The Art Lounge Gallery will have art booths set up at McCall Park from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS
Bryan Elementary School
Durant High School
FishHawk Creek Elementary School
Knights Elementary School
Lincoln Elementary Magnet School
Lithia Springs Elementary School
Mulrennan Middle School
Nelson Elementary School
Pinecrest Elementary School
Plant City High School
Robinson Elementary School
Simmons Career Center
Springhead Elementary School
Strawberry Crest High School
Trapnell Elementary School
Turkey Creek Middle School
Valrico Elementary School
Walden Lake Elementary School
Wilson Elementary School
Willis Peters Exceptional School
Hope Lutheran Churchh Vacation Bible School
City of Plant City Ceramic Art Class
What’s for lunch?
Local churches are making a variety of soups to fill handmade bowls at the event.
Bethel Missionary Baptist Church: Clam chowder
Evangelical Presbyterian Church: Broccoli cheese
First Presbyterian Church: Minestrone, Chicken noodle, New Orleans-style gumbo
First United Methodist Church: Potato
Hope Lutheran Church: Turkey
Loan Oak Baptist Church: Taco, black bean sausage
Mt. Olive Baptist Church: Vegetable
St. Clement Catholic Church: Garbanzo bean, vegetable
St. Mary’s Community Church: Potato
Trinity United Methodist Church: Chicken vegetable, Greek lemon with orzo