Lucy Stoppler, a member of the Osoyoos Potters, works on a bowl for Desert Sun Counselling and Resource Centre’s upcoming Empty Bowls Fundraiser. (Vanessa Broadbent / Osoyoos Times)

By Vanessa Broadbent

Osoyoos Times

The Osoyoos Potters have spent the last five years hand-crafting one-of-a-kind clay bowls for Desert Sun Counselling and Resource Centre’s annual Empty Bowls Fundraiser, and this year’s event on Nov. 13 will be the last featuring the wares of the local artists.

At the event at the Watermark Beach Resort, attendees get to choose one of the bowls which they then use (or a disposable one) to taste different soups created by local chefs before voting for their favourite.

The event is Desert Sun’s signature fundraising effort for the year and raises awareness of the non-profit’s local programming, as well as those using the services, event organizer Sandy Summers said.

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“They take their bowl home empty at the end of the night and the idea is that when they look at an empty bowl it reminds them of those who have less in our community.”

Between throwing, drying, firing and glazing, each bowl takes hours to make, and over their five years involved the Osoyoos Potters have contributed 1,000 bowls.

This year alone potter Darlene Fillion has made between 30 and 40 bowls.

“It’s a process, and it’s a long process, and you have to take time,” Fillion said. “It’s patience because it takes time to do each process.”

Members of the Osoyoos Potters show the bowls they’ve been working on for Desert Sun Counselling and Resource Centre’s upcoming Empty Bowls Fundraiser. (Vanessa Broadbent / Osoyoos Times)

Without heat or air conditioning in the studio, potters are confined to working on the bowls only in the spring and fall, taking up a large portion of their available studio time.

“We’re kind of tapped out – we have nothing more to give,” Fillion said. “Not only is it the work, it’s the expense as well. Our kiln that we have used in the last five years has cost us $4,000 just in repairs. We’re constantly repairing this one kiln on an ongoing basis.”

However, Desert Sun plans to continue hosting the popular event every year.

“Because it is such a signature event we’ll continue to do it, we’ll just have to be creative on how we get the bowls,” Summers said.

“We’re definitely grateful to the potters for the hours and hours of dedication, but sad to hear that they won’t be able to partner with us next year.”

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This year’s event will feature soup from nine local restaurants and chefs: The Restaurant at Watermark; The Bear, The Fish, The Root, The Berry; Nk’Mip Cellars; Great Estates; Oliver Eats; Row 14; Rust Winery; Desert Hills Bistro; Terrafina at Hester Creek; and Soupertime.

Baked goods are donated by Lake Village Bakery, Medici’s Gelateria is supplying desert and drinks are provided by Firehall Brewery, Hester Creek and vinAmité Cellars.

The Empty Bow’s Fundraiser isn’t until Nov. 13 but over 150 tickets, priced at $49 each, have sold already. Organizers are also looking for businesses to sponsors bowls for $50 (and a charitable receipt).

Tickets are on sale at Eventbrite.ca, or for tickets or more information about getting involved stop by either Desert Sun’s Main Street Osoyoos office or Fairview Road office in Oliver or call 250-498-2538.