February 19, 2014
Six Bowls is a yearlong community engagement project envisioned by Langley artist, Penny Kaela Bauer, for the purpose of celebrating community, food and art, and to support the efforts of Good Cheer Food Bank and local food producers.
The Six Bowls project started with a group of ceramic and glass artists creating six serving bowls. The bowls then traveled through the hands of six poets/writers who each created a short meditation for their bowl. Now the bowls, with their words, are circulating through the community.
Community members can enjoy a beautiful, locally-made bowl with family, neighbors or co-workers and create a special occasion and memory. It’s free to participate.
Whidbey resident, Jeanne R. Strong, recently participated in the Six Bowls project when she created a potluck with friends as a celebration and a blessing for her trip to Bujumbura, the capital city of Burundi in central Africa. She is working with teachers and their students for six weeks to help heal the wounds and trauma of civil war. “I am so grateful to have a team of friends who will accompany me in spirit, every step of the way,” Jeanne said. ”And knowing these bowls are circulating, collecting many stories, adds to the sense of connection we so need to do our work in the world.”
Jeanne’s story can be found at http://www.sixbowls.com/a-burundi-gathering and the Six Bowls website, http://www.sixbowls.com has further information and details on how to enjoy these bowls in your own home.
Community members, groups and organizations are documenting their experiences with a bowl in the form of photographs, reflections, videos, art, and recipes. Later, local farmers and producers will be highlighted as resources for meals made for the bowls to share with others. Finally, the Six Bowls will be gathered for an art installation and silent auction in the fall of 2014, with music, food and reading of the poems.
All proceeds will benefit Good Cheer Food Bank in Bayview. The food bank’s website is http://www.goodcheer.org.
