Dennis Trombatore, a devoted friend of the Austin Empty Bowl Project, passed away Saturday, July 18, 2020, after a long hard-fought battle with cancer. No surprise to people lucky enough to know Dennis, he’d been making bowls for this year’s event and regretting that he wouldn’t be able to get them all glazed. Over the years Dennis has thrown, carved and glazed thousands of bowls for this project. He also demonstrated throwing for people waiting in line, no doubt inspiring some future potters. We will miss his beautiful pottery, his quiet presence, and his unbounded generosity. Rest in peace, dear friend.
Nancy Hallmark is a potter and retired art teacher in Austin. In addition to making and decorating dozens of gorgeous majolica bowls every year, Nancy holds a workshop for art teachers on how to make bowls for the project. Nancy is also a regular at our potter bowl making parties and volunteers day of.
Pottery students at Austin Pottery Studio and members of Greater Austin Clay Artists hold bowl-a-thons and donate boxes of bowls every year.
Hester Weigand doesn’t just donate a number of bowls. She donates by the ton. No joke. This potter and co-director of the project throws bowls all year long, some that she decorates, some that she gets friends and neighbors to decorate, some that other artists decorate, and some that celebrities sign for the silent auction. She’s the Clayzmanian Devil.
Cindy Haenel makes bowls and then makes sure that they’re filled will gourmet soup. Article: Central Market’s Well-Bladed Cindy Haenel: Cutting Herself Free
The 100+ Club: Dennis Trombatore, Ed Triece, Marc Jeanin, Ron Lieberman and Nancy Hallmark