Empty Bowls Dinner - service learning essay and artist reflection

Today, you will write your artist statement and service learning essay for your ceramic bowl donated to the Empty Bowls dinner. 

But first, let's review about the Empty Bowls cause. The Empty Bowls Project is an international grassroots effort to raise both money and awareness in the fight to end hunger. This project represents what we do best—develop creative, exciting, and powerful models that are replicable and scalable by others wishing to work for social justice. By creating bowls, donating them to the dinner, members of the community purchase the bowl, have dinner and 100% of the proceeds go to local food pantries. 

http://www.emptybowls.net/

WHO DID WE HELP SPECIFICALLY?
A Just Harvest: 

A Just Harvest’s mission is to fight poverty and hunger in the Rogers Park and greater Chicago community by providing nutritious meals daily while cultivating community and economic development and organizing across racial, cultural and socioeconomic lines in order to create a more just society.
http://www.ajustharvest.org/sample-page/

Common Pantry:
Our mission is to meet the emergency food needs of our community through our weekly food distributions, home delivery to elderly clients, our hot lunch program and our monthly distribution of fresh fruits and vegetables on Produce Day. Through our Common Community Program, we help individuals and families address the root causes of food insecurity and poverty by assisting with benefit applications, job searches, housing issues and services to the homeless.
http://www.commonpantry.org/

Writing an Artist Statement:

The process of reflection is an important aspect in the production of an artist’s portfolio. Successful reflection enables self-awareness and personal growth. The artist statement should reveal the beliefs, emotions and feelings of the artist. Please consider the following:

1. Describe the artwork.
2. What was the inspiration for creating this piece of artwork?
3. Describe what you did to create this artwork.
4. What are some of the concepts that you learned while creating this artwork?
5. What is your favorite part of this artwork? What was the least favorite?
6. What would you change if you were to create it again? Why?
7. Did anything about this artwork surprise you?
8. Overall, how do you feel about the process and outcome?

Post-Service Reflection 

In order for your Service Learning hours to be registered, you will need to complete a reflection 

essay of 1-2 pages in length. Choose one or more of the following questions to guide your essay. 

1. Choose three words that best describe your Service Learning experience, and develop an essay 

around these words. 

2. Think back to your attitude about Service Learning prior to your experience. Did your 

experience change or confirm your attitude? Describe your experiences as you answer this 

question. 

3. Based on your Service Learning experience, discuss the problems that your project/placement 

site addressed. What do you think might be a good way to solve the problems that your service 

organization addresses? How did you address these issues during your project? Did your 

project address a symptom or a root cause? 

4. How is your service organization important to the people it serves? What changes would you 

suggest to the director or the Board of Directors? What was your role in the agency’s delivery of 

services? 

5. Do you have more or less sympathy/understanding for the problem you addressed than you did 

before your Service Learning experience? 

6. Did you take risks or did you play it safe during this experience? Were you challenged? Did you 

grow in any way? Did this experience impact the way that you see yourself or the world? 

7. What was the best experience during your Service Learning project? What was the worst 

experience? How would you approach this project or another project differently next time? 

8. Did the Service Learning experience impact the way that you are thinking about potential 

careers? If so, how? Describe what you did during your experience, to what issues you were 

exposed, the skills you gained, and/or the discussions you had that impacted your thinking about 

careers.