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By Rama K. Ramaswamy
Just before Thanksgiving, WHS students in Amie Larson's Ceramics Intensive course successfully proved that greatness is not what you have, but what you give.
The students’ annual Empty Bowls event had sold out well before the gathering. Students Julian von Hofe, Cort Bruer, Caroline McMahan, Lindsay Carroll, Emily Conners, Maddie Noble, Arielle Roos, Patrick Kley, Abby Buckham, Serelle Carr, Sofia Fauza, Sophie Laing, Javier Lopez and Rey Hill provided enough ceramics - along with dinner donations of soup by WHS art faculty and local businesses - to raise over $2,300.
Bowls made by the Ceramics Intensive students.
All the proceeds will be donated to Rosie's Place in Boston and go towards Puerto Rico's hurricane relief efforts as well.
Empty Bowls is a national grassroots movement to help end hunger. Larson seized the opportunity to support this cause by building social consciousness and contribution into the curriculum for her Ceramics Intensive course; as part of her students' portfolios, they designed over 75 bowls earmarked for this charity.
A few of Larson's students remarked that this event was about "more than making a donation," but rather, "this money could make a difference.”
Director of Visual Arts Thomas Carter stopped by for a bowl and some soup dinner; incidentally, he contributed his homemade soup to the event as well and enjoyed sampling others' brews, too. Carter commented on the event's success and how it had exceeded expectations once again this year.
WHS Principal Jamie Chisum was on hand to congratulate the Ceramics Intensive students on their hard work and their teacher, about whom he said: “We have the best art teachers anywhere!"
A few of the Ceramics Intensive students enjoy their dinner.
Wellesley Parents Supporting Arts Students (WPSAS) Co-Presidents Nina Pascale and Carol Hildebrand were very happy to see many fellow parents and their children, who had attended to support the event. WPSAS is an organization dedicated to supporting students who are interested in participating in the fine and visual arts in the Wellesley Public Schools. Its mission also includes the support of and assistance for art faculty with the goals of nurturing students.
For more information about WPSAS, visit https://www.wellesleypsas.org/aboutus.
Paul Falcone of the Wellesley Media Corporation filmed the 2017 Empty Bowls event; to watch the video, visit https://youtu.be/ahju-PEc5Co.
