LOS ALAMITOS, CA — Along with academics, athletics, and activities, the arts make up one of the core aspects of our school’s curriculum. To many, visual arts may just seem like forging patterns or shapes that are pleasing to the eye. However, the importance of art goes beyond looks alone but represents the essence of the human spirit. In addition to creativity, compassion is also a human characteristic expressed by art, which is exactly what Los Al’s ceramics class aimed to convey this month.

In support of the local community, the ceramics class at Los Al cooperated with South County Outreach for an event known as Empty Bowls. South County Outreach is a local non-profit organization aimed at distributing food, housing, and education to those in need. This collective has been an important provider of these necessities since it was founded in 1989 by Ray Havert.

“Our food program distributes over 700,000 pounds of emergency, non-perishable, and fresh food to over 6,000 residents annually,” said the organization on its official website.

In regards to the Empty Bowls Project itself, it is a movement on both a national and global scale. Started by artists who wished to use visual beauty to help the less fortunate, this event is also held on a yearly basis. By using their complex skills in visual art, ceramics students of Mr. Carthew’s class create bowls that will be given away at the charity event’s venue. From there, guests receive an empty bowl as a gift of gratitude for funding and attending the charity.

“We’ve been doing it for about six or seven years,” Mr. Carthew said about Los Al’s involvement with the organization.

Mr. Carthew’s class donated their student-made creations on April 13 during the charity event. As pieces of art, they are more than just colorful keepsakes for the participants to put on their walls. These empty bowls represent the status of those being supported by the charity. While many of the people you know may have the privilege to eat three times a day, plenty of others across the world do not. Therefore, the emptiness of the bowls designed by Los Al’s artists serves as a symbol of the malnourishment others experience on a daily basis. Though the message conveyed by the art pieces is grim and saddening, it is more than just a depressing reminder of those less fortunate. Rather, it is a motivator for the owner of the empty bowl to continue donating to organizations like South County Outreach that specialize in feeding the needy. Though these bowls may seem like simple decorations, their involvement with this noble charity is forever a symbol of human compassion and kindness.

The ceramics program at the school plans on continuing their collaboration with South County Outreach for years to come, as it benefits not only the recipients of the aid, but also the teachers and student artists who are involved.

“Not only as community members, but as educators, students, and artists, we have the ability to contribute to those who may be in need of help,” Carthew said.

Most of all, the feeling of having their art contribute to something important left a lasting impact on the students who made the bowls. Not only did they have the chance to do what they love in the field of art, but also keep the feeling of satisfaction that their actions went towards helping others.

“It was fun to make something for somebody else instead of myself” said student ceramic artist Sofia Kazachenko about her involvement.