The 2nd Annual Empty Bowls Project

In November, the advanced art students and our after-school art club hosted our 2nd Empty Bowls event. After last year's smashing success we had high hopes and expectations. While we didn't have as good of a turn-out, we were able to raise a good amount to send to our local food bank. This is in conjunction with the school-wide food drive we hold each holiday season. Together, we were able to make an impact in the daily lives of people in our community.  Better yet, students created beautiful and artistic ceramic bowls and were able to experience selling their creations for a greater purpose than themselves. Which is really what it's all about, right?

Students photographed the bowls since most have new homes.

To learn more about The Empty Bowls Project go here, or to check out last year's event go here.

Bully Prevention Month & Kindness in Chalk

This week, Art Club was on a mission. A mission to remind students, staff, and visitors that kindness is important. It all started when I saw the Kindness in Chalk campaign. The Kindness in Chalk event is the brain-child of teachers in the Twin Cities. I found their idea inspiring and a great way to acknowledge October as Bully-Prevention Month. So, we joined in! 

On Tuesday, we chalk-bombed the sidewalk right in front of the junior high campus. First, we discussed some frightening statistics on how bullying affects students and what can be defined as bullying. We then discussed why promoting a message of kindness, tolerance, and inner-strength was so important (compared to chanting don't be a bully or no bullying). Students brain-stormed, in groups, about their message and aesthetic choices (color, lettering, etc.). Then, we got down to business! Here is what they came up with. 

"We rise by lifting others"

"What doesn't kill you makes you stronger" "Love each other"

"No act of kindness is ever wasted"

"Be sure to taste your words before you spit them out"

"Be kind"

"Work hard,  be kind, and great things will happen!"

 They did a lovely job. Which is why I was so disappointed and discouraged when the same students came to me the next day to say that kids were purposefully shuffling along their work to destroy it. 

Our chalk art didn't even last 24 hours. 

WHY? 

I guess it just proves our point. 

Kindness, love, tolerance and inner-strength need to be reenforced for everyone.

Empty Bowls Project

   The Empty Bowls Project is a grassroots movement with an aim to help end and bring awareness to hunger and food insecurity in our communities. I first learned of the Empty Bowls Project during a ceramics course my junior year of college. Since then, it has always been at the back of my mind. That place all teachers have dedicated in their brains for future school ideas (or now referred to simply as Pinterest). In August, I started researching nearby events. None of them were really right for us. Most events wouldn't take volunteers under 16, or were too far away, or were for professional potters only. So I did what I usually do, dove head-first into a pretty ambitious idea. Thus, the very first Navarro JHS Empty Bowls project was born.
Here is a link to a local newspaper article for the event!
 

 Students used food-safe glaze, slump molds, and some throwing on the wheel to create these functional masterpieces!

Students began working in early October to make our mid-November deadline. We discussed statistics of people (especially children) who lived with hunger or food insecurity, in our state. My plan was for each student to create 3 ceramic bowls; each a different size, style, or technique. Their results blew me away. We had 70+ bowls to sell and only had a hand-full leftover after the event. There wasn't a single student who did not make a sale! All of the proceeds went to a local food bank!