"She loved the smell of wet dirt the way others might love the smell of roses" Dawn Hewitt
Community Outreach
Each year members of the Greater Lansing Potters’ Guild participate in a variety of activities.
Hundreds of bowls raise thousands of dollars.
EMPTY BOWLS
We play a vital role in the annual Empty Bowls fundraiser, a longstanding community event organized by the Greater Lansing Food Bank. This is part of an international fundraising effort to raise money and increase awareness of hunger related issues. Every year, together with other Lansing area potters, restaurants, bakeries, and musicians, we contribute our time and our wares to this cause. In 2019, 650 hand-made ceramic bowls were sold and $12,800 was raised to help stock the food bank, soup kitchens, and other organizations that fight hunger. Guests can purchase a donated ceramic bowl for $20 and are then served a simple meal of soup and bread.
Demonstrations
More opportunities to observe Guild members demonstrating their skills of wheel throwing and hand building can be found at the Fenner Nature Center’s yearly Apple Butter festival and the East Lansing Art Festival.
Keith Bassar shows how a lump of clay becomes something usable.
Be a Tourist in Your Own Town
For several years the Greater Lansing Potters’ Guild has participated in Be a Tourist in Your Own Town. Created by the Greater Lansing Convention and Visitors Bureau, this event showcases unique attractions and special events in our area. The Guild holds an all-day open house with tours, demonstrations, refreshments, and limited sales. Some 200 people visited our facility in 2019 to learn how the pottery process works.
Fun sharing the Guild with the community.
Donations
Members of the Greater Lansing Potters’ Guild have donated their ware to various fundraisers and auctions in the area. Some of the organizations we have supported through the years include the Lansing Symphony Orchestra, Reach Studio Art Center, the East Lansing Public Library, and the Community Unitarian Universalists of Brighton.