Empty Bowl Project breaks new fundraising ground

It started in Michigan in the 1990's. Local ceramic groups and artists made soup bowls, which were filled with soup donated by local restaurants. For $15, people could buy a bowl, soup and bread.

Now, it’s happening again from 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 6, at the ARTS at Mark's Garage, 1159 Nuuanu St., Honolulu.  All of the donations will benefit the Hawaii Foodbank.

The Hawaii Potters' Guild will provide the bowls and the Side Street Inn-Downtown, Cafe Laufer and Great Life Cuisine will provide the soups.  Ceramist Ramon Camarillo will wear his other hat and provide music for the event with his band Southern Swell.  Other partners include Koko Head Potters, Fort Shafter Crackpots, the ARTS at Mark's Garage, Hawaii Craftsmen, Commercial Plumbing, First Hawaiian Bank and Kenjo.

Sets of bowls and 'signature' bowls will be available for sale in a silent auction. Signature bowls are special bowls made and signed by well-known ceramic artists such as Yukio Ozaki, Paul Nash, Ken Kang, Kenny Kicklighter, Charles Patten and Jeff Chang.

The event is being held in conjunction with HPG's 42nd Anniversary Exhibit at the ARTS at Mark's Garage. Have a bowl of soup and view the exhibit.