Volunteer potters gathered Saturday at the Pima County Northwest Art Center, 7770 N. Shannon Road, to handcraft bowls from clay.
In a series of "bowl-a-thons," the volunteers are making vessels for Interfaith Community Services Food Bank's Empty Bowl event on March 17. The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Tucson Chinese Cultural Center, 1288 W. River Road.
Each freshly made clay bowl was similar to the others, yet each was unique, bearing a little something of the potter's personality in its style.
Saturday's was the first of four bowl-a-thons. Three more are planned: Jan. 26 from 6 to 9 p.m.; Feb. 10 from 6 to 9 p.m.; and March 1 from 1 to 5 p.m., all at the Northwest Art Center.
Volunteers hope to make 500 bowls, which will sell for $15 at the Empty Bowl event, with all of the money going directly to the food bank. Pima County Natural Resources, Parks and Recreation donated the workshop space and Marjon Ceramics donated the clay.
People are also reading…
Many of the volunteers who showed up Saturday had never worked with clay before, but were able to make beautiful bowls with direction from Jada Ahern. Ahern teaches pottery classes for the county and is president of Southern Arizona Clay Artists.
Tim W. Glass is a Tucson freelance photographer.
