Art.Food.Community. Arlington EATS

Art, Food and Community. In Arlington, we’ve got them all. Terrific transformer boxes, Chairful Where you Sit and amazing public Art happenings at Menotomy Rocks and all over town. And Food—well, everyone knows that there’s no point along Mass Ave that doesn’t offer fabulous food opportunities. Grab the nearest parking spot and your repast awaits. As for Community, of course, we have an amazingly active citizenry that speaks out, watches out and basically stands out as some of the finest around.

A microcosm of this town-wide synchronicity is happening now in the classrooms and hallways at the Thompson School. With generous help from the Arlington Education Foundation and the Arlington Cultural Council (remember our stand out community?) two of Arlington’s finest ceramic artists, Eileen de Rosas and Melody Wolfe Thomas, are bringing their vision to life in 17 of East Arlington’s classrooms. Working with every student at the Thompson School in a groundbreaking arts-integration project, they will bring art, food and community together in one fell swoop.

Each student has created two clay bowls—specifically designed to fit in with their grade-level social studies curriculum. After the bowls are fired by Eileen and Melody in Thompson’s own kiln, the artists will return to the classrooms to talk about the art process, to discuss with the kids how the bowls helped them learn about the subjects they are studying and how it changed their perspective, bringing art into their classroom as part of their learning. And that’s really cool, but that’s not all.

While they were making the bowls, each student chose one of their creations to be part of a school-wide philanthropic effort intended to help those in their midst who might not have quite enough. When the bowls are finished, each student will bring one of these special creations home—for their morning cereal, or a gift for mom, or as a reminder of a fun day at school. The other they will donate to be sold on Saturday, May 16 as part of the Art.Food.Community fundraiser Empty Bowls.

All together, the students at the Thompson School will donate 400 bowls. That’s 400 completely unique, individual creations, made with all the energy and love that elementary school students put into everything. As one 1st grader said, “That was the very best ever activity ever I ever did in school!” 400 bowls that represent part of what elementary school students learn in social studies—there are Japanese cherry blossoms and lace textured slabs from Kindergarten; Talavera Mexican pottery from grade 1; leaf and fish inspired Japanese bowls in the wabi-sabi tradition from 2nd grade; Wampanoag-inspired Indian pottery from 3rd grade; Pueblo pottery from grade 4 and Revolutionary War terracotta (could it be a chamber pot??) from Grade 5. Sold as part of the $25 ticket price, it is expected that those 400 bowls will provide 3000 meals for Arlington EATS to serve during vacation lunches, weekend food bags, and school- and camp-based snacks.

Eileen and Melody are keeping a blog of this project, and I recommend that you follow it—it is truly inspirational.https://artfoodcommunity.wordpress.com/ There are pictures of all the grades, a time-lapse video, quotes from kids and their personal commentary on the project. They say, “a bowl embodies the human capacity to give and receive.” Come join Arlington EATS on May 16, and fill your bowl for receiving AND giving. In fact, you can buy your tickets now! Go to: http://www.arlington-eats.org/bowls/ to be sure you get a ticket (and a bowl!)

Art—from our beloved youngest citizens.

Food—when you come to share in the fun, and for those who need some extra.

Community—coming together to speak up, watch out and take care of our own.

Still looking for your small thing to do? If you can give us an hour or two on a Friday afternoon to help with weekend bag pick up, it would make a huge difference! Can’t do Friday afternoon? EATS is also recruiting volunteers for May 16 to help with the BOWLS event. There will be food, games, crafts and all kinds of activities and if you sign up now, you can have your choice! Be part of our small thing--and make a big difference.