The Clay Club at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville is hosting the fourth annual Platteville Empty Bowls and Chili Cook-Off event on Saturday, Nov. 19 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. in the Platteville City Hall Council Chambers. All proceeds from the event will support the Platteville Food Pantry and Pioneer Provisions, the free pantry and grocery service on campus for students experiencing food insecurity.
Empty Bowls is a grass roots movement that originated at a Michigan high school in 1990. Since then, thousands of clubs, schools, studios and home potters across the globe have worked to support food-related charitable organizations and have raised millions of dollars to help end hunger. According to its website, Empty Bowls is recognized worldwide for the contributions they make to their local communities.
"The Empty Bowls project is a wonderful way to bring people together,” said Scott Steder, lecturer of art at UW-Platteville. “These events require a great deal of teamwork and strengthens our connection to the community. Empty Bowls is art as a vehicle for change and allows us to give back while doing what we love to do."
Approximately 50 students from UW-Platteville and local school districts have contributed to the event, creating more than 250 handmade ceramic bowls.
Attendees select a handmade ceramic bowl, receive a chili meal of their choice and are entered in a raffle to win a range of prizes donated by local artists and businesses.
Cost for the general public is $20 and for students, with ID, $10.