Empty Bowls Project Pairs Creative Expression and Worthwhile Cause

NEW PALTZ — The SUNY New Paltz Clay Club, an organization composed of Bachelor of Fine Arts and Master of Fine Arts ceramic students is participating in the Empty Bowls Project, a national fundraising effort to help provide food for the hungry. Proceeds from this event will benefit Family of New Paltz The event has two components. The first part, which is free, invites the public to make a bowl in the ceramic studio on Sunday, October 12, 1-4p.m. and Tuesday, October 14, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. With assistance from Clay Club members, learn to throw a bowl on the wheel, or hand-build one. Using high-fire stoneware clay and various glazes, your ideas will evolve into a finished piece. After the bowls are fired, the event culminates on Tuesday, October 28, 10 a.m. – 7p.m. at which time the bowls may be purchased for $12 filled with delicious soup, donated by local restaurants including The Would, DePuy Canal House, Rosendale Café, and others. Bowls may be purchased with cash or check. Proceeds from the event will benefit Family of New Paltz. This is a unique opportunity to receive a free lesson in working with clay, and at the same time, participate in a fund-raising event for a local non-profit organization. The Clay Club President Lea Tyler says, “Empty Bowls Project is a nationwide activity that the ceramic community has created to bring awareness to this important issue. There are 25 members in the Clay Club, and we each look forward to welcoming members of the community into the studio.” Tyler adds, “Come prepared to get messy and have lots of fun.” Family of New Paltz is a multi-program human service agency providing resources throughout Ulster County. Family offers crisis intervention services, emergency shelter and food programs, dependent care programs, and case management services to such populations as homeless individuals and families, victims of domestic violence, substance abusers and individuals at the Ulster County Jail. Family is also a lead agency in the development of HIV/AIDS services in Ulster County. To learn more about the Empty Bowls Project, call the SUNY New Paltz Ceramics Studio at 845-257-3831. The image contained in this release is available a 150dpi in jpeg format at http://www.newpaltz.edu/news/images/ceramics-10-03.html

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