Bowls runneth over with help for hungry

Friday, April 20, 2001 | 3:25 a.m.

By joining a national effort to feed the hungry, local potters are showing that a little stoneware can go a long way.

Following several "bowl-a-thons" held over the past year, Las Vegas potters have created nearly 950 individually hand-thrown ceramic bowls that will be sold April 28 at a benefit to raise money for a local charity.

The Empty Bowl Benefit and Auction, held at the Las Vegas Academy, will feature a lunch of soup and bread catered by local restaurants.

The Nevada Clay Guild, Coleman Clay Studio and Aardvark Clay are sponsoring the event.

The bowls, glazed in blues, browns, purples and greens, come in a variety of shapes, sizes and textures. Some were hand painted and trimmed.

Proceeds from the event will go to the Catholic Worker, a local organization that has been operating a food line for the homeless in Las Vegas for 15 years.

"It's a great organization to do it with because all the funds go to the hungry," said John Andruss, a ceramics teacher at the Las Vegas Academy and a member of the Nevada Clay Guild.

Using the help of volunteers, the Catholic Worker serves soups and stews at 6:30 a.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays at St. James Catholic Church, at H Street and Washington Avenue.

More than 80,000 bowls of soup and 50,000 cups of coffee were served last year, said Julia Occhiogrosso, co-director of the organization.

The food is prepared at the Catholic Worker Hospitality House and transported to St. James. The organization operates soley on food and monetary donations. Occhiogrosso said Saturday's event will be its largest fund-raiser.

People attending the benefit pay an entrance fee, select a ceramic bowl from which to eat their soup and take home as a reminder of world hunger.

"Hopefully (people will) have a reminder throughout the year that the bowl came from this event," Andruss said, "something to signify that some people don't have anything to put in their bowls."

Additionally, a silent auction will feature one-of-a-kind pieces, such as platters, sculptures, fruit bowls and tea pots, including works by renowned potter Tom Coleman.

"There's a wide variety of styles and glaze colors that people can choose from," Andruss said. "The style runs the gamut. There should be something for everyone."

The Empty Bowl is a project of the Imagine/RENDER Group, a nonprofit organization in Michigan that works to create positive social change through the arts.

Andruss said the effort was begun 11 years ago by Michigan teachers and students who made ceramic bowls to raise money to feed the hungry.

The project is held in several cities throughout the country. Last year nearly 1,000 benefits were held on World Hunger Day, Oct. 19.

About 50 local potters have participated in making bowls for the April 28 event.

"The response from the potters is great," Andruss said. "They're pretty down to earth people."

The Nevada Clay Guild plans to continue the effort each spring in Las Vegas, he added.

"They have donated so much labor in making these bowls," Occhiogrosso said. "The Catholic Worker is very moved and grateful."