This course will provide students with an opportunity to learn about creative community engaged practices and ethical processes that take up issues of food insecurity in the Bennington region. The class activities will be centered around a collaborative project, Empty Bowls, that links a community service organization (Greater Bennington Interfaith Community Service Inc.) with students, staff and faculty from Bennington College (Visual Arts/Ceramics and CAPA).

Through direct dialog and face-to-face interaction with community participants and by investigating various forms of creative interventions devised by artists and community activists dealing with issues of food sovereignty and social justice, students will help design and participate in events that benefit the Greater Bennington Interfaith Community Service’s Food and Fuel Program. A series of ceramic workshop sessions will be conducted so that the residents and students can collectively produce high quality bowls, which will be used to serve soups prepared by local restaurant chefs to Bennington community members at the Empty Bowls fund-raising event in November 2016.

Attending the weekend Empty Bowls event is mandatory to pass this course. (Tentatively scheduled for Sunday, November 6.) Weekend open studio hours / workshops will be organized to engage the participation of local residents through access to ceramic studio and technical assistance.