Calumet Art Center to host final Empty Bowls event Oct. 5

CALUMET -- Join the Calumet Art Center and BHK Great Explorations at the Calumet Art Center at 57055 5th St., Calumet, for the final Empty Bowls event from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. on First Friday, Oct. 5.

Frank Fiala, right, owner of the Fifth and Elm Coffee House in Houghton, hosted the fourth Empty Bowls event on Sept. 5, 2012. He is pictured here outside the Fifth and Elm with Sherry Rivard, regional coordinator for BHK Great Explorations. The final Empty Bowls event will take place at the Calumet Art Center on First Friday, Oct. 5. (Photo by Allan Baker for Keweenaw Now)

For a $10 donation select a bowl made by local potters and enjoy a meal of soup and bread. 100 percent of the proceeds will be donated to these local food pantries to fight hunger: CLK Food Pantry, St. Vincent DePaul (Hancock and L’Anse) and Community Action Food Pantry.

Through BHK Great Explorations, children from third through eighth grade have participated in the Calumet Art Center's Empty Bowls project by decorating the bowls. Volunteers of all ages have also decorated the bowls, made by local potters. Local restaurants and cafés have served soup to customers who donate $10 for one of the decorated bowls. The café/restaurant serves the soup in one of their own bowls and the customer takes home the decorated bowl.

The Art Center will also be holding a Fall Silent Auction as a First Friday event. This auction will benefit continuing programs at the Calumet Art Center throughout the fall and winter.

Fifth and Elm Coffee House in Houghton to host Empty Bowls event Sept. 5

By Michele Bourdieu

Outside the Kangas Café on Aug. 7, 2012, Beth Anderson, left, administrative assistant, and Sherry Rivard, regional coordinator, for BHK Great Explorations offer hand-made bowls for donations to support the Empty Bowls Project. The Kangas Café, located in the Jutila Center in Hancock, participated in the project by serving soup for a day to those who bought a $10 bowl, made by local potters and decorated by adults and children in the Calumet Art Center. The proceeds from the bowl sales help fight hunger by supporting local food pantries. On Sept. 5, 2012, the Fifth and Elm Coffee House in Houghton will be the fourth Empty Bowls business supporter to serve the soup for a day. (Photos by Keweenaw Now)

HOUGHTON -- Join the Calumet Art Center and BHK Great Explorations at the Houghton Fifth and Elm Coffee House for the fourth Empty Bowls event from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 5.

Dolores Kangas, owner of Kangas Café and Catering in Hancock, donated soup and bread for a whole day on Aug. 7 to support the Empty Bowls Project. She set up a room near the café for serving and kept it open later after the café closed. "I believe when you're successful at business you should pass it on," Kangas said.

For a $10 donation select a bowl made by local potters and enjoy a meal of soup and bread at the Fifth and Elm Coffee House located at 326 Shelden Ave., Houghton.
100 percent of the proceeds will be donated to local organizations fighting hunger in our communities: CLK Food Pantry, St. Vincent DePaul (Hancock and L’Anse) and the Community Action Food Pantry.

By afternoon on Aug. 7, during the Empty Bowls event at Kangas Café in Hancock, Beth Anderson, administrative assistant for BHK Explorations, said they had collected more than $550 already just that day, selling more than half of the 100 bowls they exhibited for sale.

"There are so many beautiful bowls," Anderson noted. "The hardest part is for people to choose a bowl."

On Aug. 7, Sherry Rivard, regional coordinator for BHK Great Explorations, serves a hearty potato-and-bacon soup and bread to Emma Mackey, 13; Cullen Mackey, 10, and their Mom, Donna Mackey, at the Kangas Café in the Jutila Center in Hancock.

Through BHK Great Explorations, children from third through eighth grade have participated in the project by decorating the bowls. In addition, adults can drop in at the Calumet Art Center and decorate a bowl.

Since April, groups and individuals -- including children accompanied by an adult -- have been coming to the Calumet Art Center to decorate the bowls. Local restaurants and cafés have been invited to serve soup to customers who donate $10 for one of the decorated bowls. The café/restaurant serves the soup in one of their own bowls and the customer takes home the decorated bowl.

In Calumet, the Café Rosetta and the Michigan House each donated soup and bread for a day to support the Empty Bowls Project earlier this summer.

The Empty Bowls Project, an international effort to fight hunger, is a community based fundraiser designed to create awareness of food insecurity and to generate income for local food pantries.

Editor's Note: See our April 30, 2012, article, "Empty Bowls Project to fight hunger kicks off at Calumet Art Center" and visit www.calumetartcenter.com for details on the project.

Kangas Café in Hancock to host Empty Bowls Project Aug. 7

Empty bowls made by local potters and painted by volunteers, young and old, at the Calumet Art Center are part of a project to fight hunger by raising funds for local food pantries. (Photo courtesy Calumet Art Center)

HANCOCK -- Kangas Café and Catering in the Jutila Center in Hancock will be the scene of another event to sponsor the Empty Bowls Project, initiated by the Calumet Art Center and BHK Great Explorations. The Café will serve soup from 11 a.m. to 5 pm. on Tuesday, Aug. 7, and offer visitors an opportunity to purchase a hand-painted bowl.

Select a bowl made by local potters and enjoy a meal of soup and bread for a $10 donation. 100 percent of the proceeds will be donated to local organizations fighting hunger in our communities: CLK Food Pantry, St. Vincent DePaul (Hancock and L’Anse) and Community Action Food Pantry.

The Empty Bowls Project, an international effort to fight hunger, is a community based fundraiser designed to create awareness of food insecurity and to generate income for local food pantries.

Since April, groups and individuals -- including children accompanied by an adult -- have been coming to the Calumet Art Center to decorate the bowls. Local restaurants and cafés have been invited to serve soup to customers who donate $10 for one of the decorated bowls. The café/restaurant serves the soup in one of their own bowls and the customer takes home the decorated bowl.

Kangas Café and Catering is located in Suite 313 of the Jutila Center for Global Design and Business, 200 Michigan St., Hancock. It is the third café/restaurant to participate in the project. The Café Rosetta and the Michigan House, both in Calumet, have also sponsored empty bowls events.

Editor's Note: See our April 30, 2012, article, "Empty Bowls Project to fight hunger kicks off at Calumet Art Center" and visit www.calumetartcenter.com for details on the project.

Ed Gray Gallery to exhibit art in silent auction to benefit Calumet Art Center

These art works in the Ed Gray Gallery have been donated by the artists to benefit the Calumet Art Center. (Photos by Keweenaw Now)

CALUMET -- Several artists have donated pieces which will be sold at a silent auction at the Ed Gray Gallery in Calumet during April. The public is invited to come in to bid on items from a variety of media.

Artist Susan Robinson has donated these lovely painted rocks for the auction.

The proceeds will benefit the Calumet Art Center. Please help make this year's auction as successful as last year's was.

Artist Bob Dawson donated this painting for the auction.

An opening reception for the auction/show will be held from 6:30 p.m. until 9 p.m. on First Friday, April 6. Refreshments will be served.

By supporting the Calumet Art Center, you can help the Center to help others. See below:

Calumet Art Center, BHK Great Explorations to host Empty Bowls Project

Calumet Art Center in collaboration with BHK Great Explorations will host the Empty Bowls Project -- an international effort to fight hunger. It’s a community-based fundraiser designed to create awareness of food insecurity and to generate income for local food pantries. The Calumet Art Center in collaboration with BHK Great Explorations is laying the ground work to host this project.

Local groups, including youth, will be decorating bowls like these for the Calumet Art Center's Empty Bowls Project -- an international effort to fight hunger. (Photo courtesy Calumet Art Center)

Local craftspeople, potters and educators will handcraft bowls, which are then used for a meal of soup and bread for a $10 cash donation. Several groups, including local youth, will be involved in the decoration and glazing of the bowls. Guests of this meal are then encouraged to keep the bowls as a reminder of those who are struggling to put food on the table for their families.

Members of both the Calumet Art Center and BHK host committee will determine the distribution of funds raised. ALL proceeds go to local organizations that alleviate hunger.

This project has made a dramatic impact in fighting hunger across the nation as well as in at least twelve other countries -- one community at a time. For more information about this project please contact the Calumet Art Center at (906) 934-2228, or email info@calumetartcenter.com.

Calumet Art Center offers Snow Sculpture Competition, after-school program, more

CALUMET -- The Calumet Art Center announces several events in their recent newsletter. Here are some excerpts:

Snow Sculpture Competition

It’s time to be creative and decide to build a snow person, animal or whatever creation you can dream up. The Calumet Art Center is providing the building site, beginning Sunday, Jan. 15. Build and sculpt until the judging on March 6, and prizes will be awarded on March 8. First, Second and Third prizes will be awarded in the following categories: individual youth, individual adult and group. Have fun in the snow in Calumet!!

BHK Great Explorations Program

The Baraga, Houghton and Keweenaw Counties Great Explorations after-school eight-week program held at the Calumet Art Center will be completed on Jan. 18. The community is invited to attend an open house at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 18, to view the students' work in clay and weaving. Beginning Wednesday, Jan. 25, an eight-week session will begin using clay and copper.

Calumet Art Center announces new assistant director

Monica Rovano is not new to the Art Center -- more like an old friend. She is new in the position of Assistant Director. Monica has stepped into the position to assist Ed Gray with many of the responsibilities of running the Art Center and its many activities.

Visit the Calumet Art Center on Facebook to read more about their activities.