During the second Empty Bowls at Masters production night, students and faculty filled the ceramics studio on April 8, as the community worked to glaze 100 bowls that were previously produced in a past event. The bowls will be sold to raise money for Feeding Westchester, and the program is part of the global Empty Bowls Foundation initiative which supports food-related charitable organizations.

The first production event, hosted on March 4, invited students and faculty with previous throwing or hand building experience. However, participants of all abilities were welcomed to the glaze night as it required no previous experience.

“I think it’s fun because glazing requires no painting skills. It’s literally like put as much paint onto a bowl as possible… so it’s fun to get your friends to do it,” senior Lorelei Gary said. Gary is a student in the wheel intensive ceramics class.

Science Department Director Dana McNamee had her first hands-on experience in pottery during the event.

McNamee said, “I’ve brought my kids to go do pottery things and my husband’s big into pottery, and I’ve just never done it [but] I am loving it [now]. And I’m going to come back, because this is super fun.”

The program is led by ceramics students Bella Danahy-Levine ‘26, Bennett Sonnenburg ‘26 and Caitlin Berry ‘28. Empty Bowls events had been hosted at Masters in previous years, but the program fizzled out. Danahy-Levine found the foundation on social media and asked Upper School Visual Arts Teacher Stephanie Mestyan to bring it back. 

Other than raising money for donation, the events also look to foster community through art.

Berry said, “I think it’s also like a great opportunity to do some good with [ceramics]. It’s pretty cool to be able to support a good cause, and it’s fun and also an opportunity to meet new people.”

Currently, the plan is to host a sale of the bowls on May 1, which coincides with the Upper School Production of Great Gig.