Collar City Clay Guild

The Empty Bowls Project was started in 1990 when a high school art teacher in Michigan had the foresight to organize an event to help support local food programs by offering a simple meal of soup and bread.  As a reminder of those that go hungry each night throughout the world, people were invited to keep an ‘empty’ homemade ceramic bowl.  Eighteen years later, the “Empty Bowls Project” has become a nationwide charitable effort that unites artists, restaurant, business owners, and community members to fight hunger in their own backyards.

 On October 2, 2005, we held our First Annual Empty Bowls Project in Troy and raised $11,630, donated 910 hand crafted bowls, and distributed equally to nine food programs.  Since then, the Collar City Clay Guild along with its many partners have raised over $48,000 and supported 11 food programs!!  And we are hoping for another great year.  In this time of economic struggle, food programs are been sought after in greater numbers.  It is during this time, that community members need to come together to support and help those in need.  This year our event will be held on Sunday October 5th from noon to 3:00pm at the Italian Community Center in Troy. 

 Area potters are already gearing up to make bowls from now until September at the Northeast Ceramic Supply/River Street Pottery and the Arts Center of the Capital Region in Troy.  If you have throwing experience please feel free to join us and help make unique and one of a kind bowls for this great project:  Northeast Ceramics/River Street Pottery:  Mondays 5:30pm-9:30pm (contact Stephanie Wojtowicz at ebp.bowls@gmail.com); The Arts Center of the Capital Region: Saturdays 12-4pm (contact John Visser at The Arts Center of the Capital Region, 273-0552.)

Pre-event tickets may be purchased for $10 at the following locations:

Northeast Ceramics                         The Broken Mold 

621 River Street                              284 River Street 

Troy, NY 12180                                 Troy, NY 12180