Empty Bowls
The Empty Bowls luncheon is scheduled for October 15, 2010. Several work days are scheduled during the summer months to provide an opportunity for everyone to get together, even people with no experience, and mass produce hundreds of bowls needed each year.
- Friday, May 14th and Saturday, May 15th are the first two work days planned for this year. Bowls will be made at the Las Cruces Museum of Art, 490 N. Water Street. Join us from 9-4 on Friday and from 9-12 on Saturday. Lunch will be provided on Friday by El Caldito.
- Sunday, July 11th at Williams Hall on the NMSU campus is the other workday scheduled. Join us from 9-5 making bowls. Lunch will be provided.
In 1993, the first Empty Bowls event in New Mexico was organized by the members of the PGLC and hosted by St. Paul's United Methodist Church. Members made 600 bowls and raised $3,650 for the local soup kitchen, El Caldito. Soup kitchen volunteers helped serve delicious soups donated by local restaurants. At the end of the meal, the bowl was taken home as a remembrance of the many hungry people living in our community.
Since that first luncheon, over 18,000 bowls have been made by Guild members and friends in studios across the desert Southwest. Countless hours have been spent working on the steering committee, making, decorating and firing bowls, selling tickets, distributing posters and flyers, coordinating work days, packing and counting bowls and working the luncheon.
Last year, 2009, was the 17th year for the fund raiser, Over 1300 bowls were made and $21,000 raised for El Caldito. We have estimated that over $220,000 has been raised since 1993, with all proceeds going to the soup kitchen.
Silent Auction
The Guild also sponsors a Silent Auction with an 
opening reception held the week before the luncheon. Guild members and other local artists have contributed work that everyone can bid on ending at St. Paul's during Empty Bowls. This lovely pot was made by member Richard Rising.