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Hundreds of students, teachers and family members attended the Downers Grove South High School Winter Art show Dec. 11, but ceramic students added a twist to this year’s annual exhibition.
Under the leadership of ceramics teachers Molly O’Brien-Prusa and Kathy Myles, three art classes donated about 40 student-made bowls to be auctioned off at the show to raise money for Potters for Peace. The nonprofit organization works to provide water filters for people in underprivileged countries without access to clean water.
“I wanted students to have experience working with the (ceramic) materials and also working outside of themselves,” O’Brien-Prusa said. “I had heard about the empty bowls project, and I thought clean water was as important as food, if not more so.”
O’Brien-Prusa researched five charities and let the students make the final choice.
According to a 2005 World Health Organization report, about 5,000 children die every day due to unsanitary water. For the past decade, members of Potters for Peace have traveled the world teaching the fabrication of a low-cost ceramic water filter, helping to bring clean, potable water to those who need it most.
The goal for this year’s South High auction was to raise $500. They auctioned 10 of the bowls during the winter show opening Dec. 11 for amounts ranging from $10 to $50, and the remaining 30 were open for bid until Monday, O’Brien-Prusa said.
She thinks they will beat their $500 goal.
“We are thrilled for our student artists and staff to have such an other-centered approach toward humanity,” said South High Fine Arts Department chair Glenn Williams. “By donating to Potters for Peace, we are teaching cultures how to make their own water purification systems. We are giving them the gift of clean water for their entire lives.”
After the auction, O’Brien-Prusa said many of her students commented that they wished they had donated more pieces to the cause, and she thinks the project will continue in the future.
“Helping people and donating makes us as students feel good and proud of our work,” said South High senior Danielle Wright. “It’s a great feeling.”
Hundreds of students, teachers and family members attended the Downers Grove South High School Winter Art show Dec. 11, but ceramic students added a twist to this year’s annual exhibition.
Under the leadership of ceramics teachers Molly O’Brien-Prusa and Kathy Myles, three art classes donated about 40 student-made bowls to be auctioned off at the show to raise money for Potters for Peace. The nonprofit organization works to provide water filters for people in underprivileged countries without access to clean water.
“I wanted students to have experience working with the (ceramic) materials and also working outside of themselves,” O’Brien-Prusa said. “I had heard about the empty bowls project, and I thought clean water was as important as food, if not more so.”
O’Brien-Prusa researched five charities and let the students make the final choice.
According to a 2005 World Health Organization report, about 5,000 children die every day due to unsanitary water. For the past decade, members of Potters for Peace have traveled the world teaching the fabrication of a low-cost ceramic water filter, helping to bring clean, potable water to those who need it most.
The goal for this year’s South High auction was to raise $500. They auctioned 10 of the bowls during the winter show opening Dec. 11 for amounts ranging from $10 to $50, and the remaining 30 were open for bid until Monday, O’Brien-Prusa said.
She thinks they will beat their $500 goal.
“We are thrilled for our student artists and staff to have such an other-centered approach toward humanity,” said South High Fine Arts Department chair Glenn Williams. “By donating to Potters for Peace, we are teaching cultures how to make their own water purification systems. We are giving them the gift of clean water for their entire lives.”
After the auction, O’Brien-Prusa said many of her students commented that they wished they had donated more pieces to the cause, and she thinks the project will continue in the future.
“Helping people and donating makes us as students feel good and proud of our work,” said South High senior Danielle Wright. “It’s a great feeling.”
