It's the weekend after Thanksgiving Day. Still stuffed with turkey and all the trimmings, are you likely to think about the poor who would go hungry all year, were it not for the social service agencies that provide free meals? Two St. Thomas artists want us to do just that.
For this year's annual Arts Alive arts and crafts fair at Tillett Gardens, ceramic artists Lynn Berry and Gail Schmiedt-Felix are putting together what they call The Empty Bowl Project. It consists of soliciting the donation by fellow Virgin Islands artists of hand-crafted ceramic bowls that will be auctioned on the final afternoon of the fair.
The proceeds will benefit several community service agencies that provide meals for the homeless and needy.
"All artists or craftspersons are encouraged to donate a bowl they have made for this worthy cause," states a flyer describing the "clay artists' relief effort" project. The donated bowls will be displayed with their makers recognized for the first two and a half days of the fair. Then, at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 28, they will go up for auction, with a minimum bid of $10 per piece.
Berry owns the Ridvan Studio in Tillett Gardens. Schmiedt-Felix owns her own ceramic arts company and teaches art at Charlotte Amalie High School
"In tough times such as those we are experiencing in the Virgin Islands, it helps to reach out to the many less fortunate," the two artists say. "Let's use our creative talents to help feed the hungry and become more involved with our community."
Artists wishing to participate in the project should take their bowls to the Ridvan Studio by Nov. 24. For more information, call Berry at 776-0901 or Schmiedt-Felix at 774-7637, or send an e-mail message to paccassi@hotmail.com.
