Glad about the Blues.

This is my 4th year volunteering at the Portland Waterfront Blues Festival in the Empty Bowls booth for the Oregon Potter's Association.  I work with other artists for four days filling up, selling, wrapping up and taking down thousands of pieces of glass and clay work donated by hundreds of clay and glass artists. 

It's hot, dusty, loud and amazing.

Especially hot this year, when the temperatures in Portland ranged from 97-100 degrees with no rain in sight.  The usual damp, green grass is now brown, dry and dirty.  The music is always loud and wonderful.  

But here's what's made me so glad this year.

Money. 

I didn't realize that since 1993, the Oregon Potter's Association has raised over 300,000 dollars for the Oregon Food Bank.  With every piece I wrapped up or donated, I helped feed someone in my own home town.

Sharing.

As I filled the shelves with donated pots to sell, I worked alongside my co-workers in clay.  As a studio artist, my work days are usually surrounded by clay and me and my wheel.  I love what I do, but sometimes, it would be great to have a few coworkers who where there to problem solve and bounce around ideas.  I got to do that while sweating and working at the Blues Festival.  

We talked about the perils of porcelain with its cracks and attachment issues.  We shared favorite tools and tips. Traded Insider info on hunting down materials to make textures in clay. And that despite all our best efforts, some pieces just go sideways disappointing us in the end with glaze runs, unwanted color changes, cracks and breaks.

Laughing away the losses and getting past it.

As an artist, you do the work you love but sometimes, the bottom line means loss instead of profit.  You work hard, spending time and money to create your art, but sometimes, it just doesn't sell right away.  You worry and wonder and then, you lower your price or when the loss stings too much, you give your work away.  

But here, today, a veteran artist shared her story of loss and redemption.  She had a piece priced at $250 that she loved but after several shows and years of no sales, she decided she had to do something different.  So the next show, she raised the price of her  piece to $350.  And what do you know?  The piece sold.  Sometimes it's waiting for the right person, but sometimes it takes you valuing your own work enough that makes the connection to the right person who values your work too.

Leaving everyday glad.

Looking at the glass and clay all around me I'm inspired.  All the textures and colors and shapes and ideas from the whimsical to the functional lifted my spirit and give my heart some new art to love.  I always like working the Blues Festival, but this year, even in 100 degree heat, I leave everyday feeling glad.  

Empty Bowls Fill With Happiness.

It's another ​4th of July and another 4 days of helping in the Empty Bowls booth for me.  It's a busy, noisy, dusty and happy 4 days for me, too.

​

This annual event by the Oregon Potters Association raises money for The Oregon Food Bank.  Last year, OPA raised over $20,000.  Add that to an event that's been happening at The Waterfront Blues Festival for over 10 years and the total raised is almost $300,000!  All going to put food on the tables of local people in need.

Yes, it's hard work.  Yet every year,  an incredible team from OPA dedicates their time to make this all happen.  

​

They organize throw-a-thons where OPA members, local students and clay companies create clay pieces that will all be donated to the Empty Bowls event.  The Glass Guild and OPA members also donate beautiful ceramic work. I'm glad to be one, making my small contribution.

​

Boxes and boxes and boxes are delivered bundled on huge palettes at the booth down by the waterfront.  Dozens of OPA volunteers arrive to unload the shelves, set up the lights, unpack the boxes, price the work and get it out to sell.  And the unpacking, pricing, shelving and selling continue for the next 4 days.

And more volunteers show up to do all in 3 hour shifts filling 12 hour days for 4 days.  And some of the unsung heroes are the committee members who put in days at the booth and weeks  before and after as well!

It's an amazing sight to see: a booth filled with clay work and a continuous line of happy people arms loaded with pots at the cash register.  

​

What could be a better way to celebrate the 4th of July but to fill the empty bowls of people who live in my town.   Now that's a great way to help everyone in their pursuit of happiness.

​

Getting outside is good for the soul.

In the morning, I hauled wooden shelves.  Hefted boxes.  Moved pallets from one spot to another.   Helped set up an outdoor tent under the hot sun.   Into the afternoon, I unpacked layers and layers of newspaper wrapped pots of all sizes and shapes.   This weekend, I was just one of dozens of ceramic artists who donated their strength and studio work to the Oregon Food Bank.

For over 20 years, during the Portland Waterfront Blues Festival, the Oregon Potters Association’s Empty Bowls sets up a booth, sells pottery and donates the money to fill the needs of the hungry in our community.  For years, I’ve bought other artists’ bowls at the booth and I still do.  But now, I also give my own bowls and cups to fill up the booth, too.  I also arranged cups, bowls, plates, vases, jars and sculptures.   And wrapped up purchases and thanked everyone for helping the hungry. 

Here’s the best part, many of the people who bought pottery have been coming to the booth and buying bowls for decades.  One man told me he has a special set of shelves that show his collection of little tea cups he’s bought over the last 20 years.  Others are amazed at all the beautiful pottery and amazing prices all for a wonderful cause.

I’ll admit, I don’t relish hoisting and hauling.  It’s not the job itself but my worries about whether I’ll be up to the task.  The answer to my worries:  I am strong enough to lend a helping hand.  Even when I was tired out, I felt good.

This week filled with outside work filled me up in more ways than one.