Empty Bowls is an event that is put on each year in October by Jerry Rawlings — a photography professor here at Black Hills State University.
Community members, from high school students to professionals, are encouraged to donate handmade bowls to the event. All who attend are asked to donate ten dollars which allows them to pick out any bowl of their choosing. Not only that, but they are allowed to eat all the soup they want, which there is plenty of, all made at The Deadwood Social Club which is where the event is hosted. The other part of the night is made up by the silent auction that is put on by Shutterbuzz — the photography club at BHSU. Half of the proceeds from the auction go toward the local food pantry while the other half goes to the club.
This year’s Empty Bowls event took in about $2,400 which is down $600 from last year. According to Jeannie Larson, who is the President of Shutterbuzz, said there are no worries about the decline in profits. “No matter what we make, half of the money goes towards the food pantry so that’s always a good thing. We’ll be putting the other half towards the club’s annual trip to Denver for art week, so everyone is pretty excited about that.”
For more information about Empty Bowls or if you want to donate pottery or participate in any way next year, you can get in touch with Jerry Rawlings at [email protected].