Empty Bowls

Empty Bowls Returns to the Hamilton Potters’ Guild Fall Sale to Support Hamilton Food Share

A reminder of all the empty bowls in our community.

From November 1-3, local area potters from the Hamilton Potters’ Guild are selling beautiful handmade Empty Bowls for $30 each to benefit Hamilton Food Share.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of Empty Bowls at the Hamilton Potters’ Guild Fall Sale. The Empty Bowls are donated by Guild members, with all the proceeds going to Hamilton Food Share. Hamilton Food Share distributes over 4 million pounds of nutritionally rich food to 16 member agencies, operating 23 emergency food banks and hot meal programs across the city each year. Over the last 20 years, Empty Bowls has raised over $394,000 to support Hamilton Food Share and food insecurity in the city.

The empty bowls will be available at the Guild’s Annual Fall Sale, an event which attracts thousands of pottery lovers from across the region. There will be high quality, locally crafted works of all types in all price ranges, including the work of this year’s featured artist Jonathan Harper. Attendees can shop all the local pottery as well as purchase a handmade empty bowl to support people in our community experiencing hunger.

 

Hamilton Potters Guild Fall Sale Hours:

Friday, Nov 1: 1:00pm -10:00pm

Saturday, Nov 2: 10:00am – 8:00pm

Sunday, Nov 3: 10:00am – 4:00pm

 

“We are deeply honored to participate once again in Empty Bowls, especially as we celebrate its 20th anniversary. This milestone event brings together the incredible artistry of local potters, who have crafted beautiful, unique pieces with a shared purpose: to help our neighbors facing hunger in Hamilton. Each empty bowl stands as a poignant symbol of food insecurity, and year after year, these talented artists dedicate their time and skill to ensure that every household in our community has a bowl that is full. We are truly inspired by the generosity and creativity of these potters, whose contributions make a meaningful impact in the lives of those in need,” said Radhika Subramanyan, Chief Executive Officer, Hamilton Food Share.

 

About This Year’s Feature Artist: Jonathan Harper

Jonathan has been making functional stoneware pots as his career for 40 years. He began his business in Burlington and is presently in Waterdown, Ontario. Jonathan is drawn to stoneware and the rock and water contrasts you can create in it. Most of his carvings are influenced by the rhythms of basketry and block printing, as well as his love of biological diversity. Jonathan’s decorations are robust, so his forms have tended to be simple in contrast. Nonetheless, he still plays a lot with the parts of pots and keep a sense of humour in them. Two photos of pottery by Featured Artist Jonathan Harper below.

For a full list of artists please visit https://www.hamiltonpotters.ca/

 

About Empty Bowls

Now in its 20th season, the Empty Bowls initiative has raised over $394,000 for Hamilton Food Share. Empty Bowls is held during The Hamilton Potters Guild’s Annual Fall Sale. The bowls are donated by Guild members and sold for $30. All the proceeds go to Hamilton Food Share.

 

About Hamilton Potters Guild

Established in 1971 in Hamilton, Ontario by thirty-two enthusiastic potters, the Guild’s membership has grown to close to four hundred. The Potters’ Guild of Hamilton and Region is a non-profit organization. We are a friendly, diverse, and very active group with a common interest, namely “CLAY”. Our members range from students to full-time professional potters. Many members have their own studios making utilitarian and decorative vessels with smoke, raku, electric, gas reduction and wood firings.

 

About Hamilton Food Share

The face of hunger in Hamilton is real. For over 34 years, Hamilton Food Share has been the Emergency Food Shipping and Receiving hub in the city of Hamilton, supporting 16 member agencies operating 23 hunger-relief programs. Dedicated to providing nutritious food to people living in poverty, Hamilton Food Share distributed over 4 million pounds of food to emergency food programs operating in neighbourhoods across the city last year. For more information visit: hamiltonfoodshare.org.