Thursday, March 28, 2024

Upper Valley Empty Bowls: The Journey of a Bowl

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12,550 bowls. That’s how many bowls have been thrown by local potters to support Upper Valley Empty Bowls over the past 24 years!  These plain clay bowls, beautifully decorated and fired, are the product of the talents and skills of a procession of local potters who have found a way to use their skill and talent to fight hunger locally by helping to support the Community Cupboard food bank.

Many know Upper Valley Empty Bowls (UVEB) as the family-friendly event where the community comes together to paint bowls and eat soup at the community soup supper. Many also bid on bowls painted by local artists and view these bowls at the UVEB Gala. The proceeds of all these events are contributed to the Community Cupboard to replenish food for the food bank. However, the story that is less familiar is the story of what takes place leading up to the glazing days. Beginning in the fall, before any soup is eaten or prepared, before the bowls are glazed, and even before the planning committee has started finalizing event details, a team of potters begin throwing the bowls. By January, potters have thrown over 600 bowls, which are the bedrock of the UVEB celebrations.

A piece of clay is cut off a larger brick of clay, then wedged (kneaded) to remove air pockets. Once air has been removed, the potter centers the clay on the wheel and forms a bowl. The bowls is removed from the wheel and set on a shelf to get leatherhard. A day later, the bowl returns to the wheel, but upside down this time so that clay can be removed from the bottom and a “foot” formed. Then, back to the shelf again to fully dry. After fully dry, the bowl advances into a kiln to be fired for 8 hours at about 1870 degrees Fahrenheit, then slowly cooled for another day. The next step is where the community comes in! At the glazing days, the community paints the bowls with underglazes in a rainbow of colors, then hands them over, not to be seen again until the community soup supper two months later. The potters are still at work however, inspecting the bowls, hand dipping them in clear overglaze, then firing them again, and sometimes a third time if needed. The final product is a culmination of potter’s skill, community artistic talent and volunteer time.

This year’s potters are Dawn Kranz, Mijanou Fortney, Margareta Dilley, Heidi Bard, Hannah Pygott, Adam Pfleeger and Linda Claeson. Many of these potters have special schooling in the ceramic arts, and a few earn their living making beautiful pottery. Their backgrounds are diverse, but they are the unseen backbone of Upper Valley Empty Bowls. Dawn Kranz has been throwing bowls for the “great cause” of UVEB for 23 of the 24 years. Now considered the resident expert, she throws and fires many of the bowls. Mijanou Fortney throws pots and teaches classes at Tierra Garden Organics, making functional pieces and drawing from nature for her ideas. Margareta Dilley squeezes pottery making in between working at Central Washington Hospital, her hobbies and playing with her grandsons. Heidi Bard finds time to throw bowls while raising an active family and being involved in the Leavenworth community. Hannah Pygott is a Wenatchee Valley native with “way too many hobbies,” including creating pottery with a rustic and northwestern flair. Adam Pfleeger grew up in Corvallis, Oregon, learned pottery in his high school studio and has continued playing with clay ever since.  Linda Claeson has taught pottery as well as having a pottery studio of her own. In addition to masterminding the UVEB glazing days, she also enjoys working with watercolors, acrylics and inks.

This year, as you enjoy soup donated by local restaurants in your colorful bowl, take part in the UVEB Gala, or bid on auction bowls painted by local artists, take a moment to imagine the hands that made the bowl itself, and appreciate the many parts of the community that have helped to create this wonderful event.

UVEB is looking for potters willing to help throw bowls next year. To volunteer or obtain additional information about UVEB, go to www.uvemptybowls.org or call Upper Valley MEND at 509-548-0408.

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