Chrome Diva’s Creations Serve Empty Bowls

Jan. 26, 2011 - PRLog -- Looking for the freedom to create whatever your heart desires?  Then you might just want to take an Adult Education class in Pottery according to Cindy Nichols of Naples.  “You simply start with a clump of clay, an open mind and with no purpose; you end up with a unique creation that simply makes you smile.”

When you pull up to the 60 year olds small garage studio, I’m not sure what will catch your eye first, her yard art consisting of eight foot clay formed wind chimes, the totem poles that she has formed that look like large strung beads topped with chick heads, or her sleek chrome motorcycle shined to ride; each adding a unique story to her life.  Nichols a member of the all woman’s motorcycle club, the Chrome Divas, rummages through the studio looking for nuts, bolts or anything that will make a unique design in the clay for her next bowl; Foo-Foo, the Bunny, dances around the studio of this down to earth potter’s refuge.  She describes her work as somewhere between “whimsical” and “Dr. Seuss looking”.

Though Nichols has had no formal art training, she said her love to “create” is just naturally in her blood.  She has been creating art in various forms all of her life.  In Michigan, she was an exhibitor every year in the Wyandotte Art Show.   In 2004 Nichols decided to try a new avenue of art.  She signed up for an Adult Education class in pottery.  She was inspired by her instructor, Donna Torrance, Barron Collier High School’s pottery instructor.  One evening during class she heard Donna and some of the other students talking about Empty Bowls.  The idea of creating art for a good cause seemed like the perfect opportunity to share her love of pottery with others.  After taking several inspirational classes from Torrance, Nichols chose to take a break to make bowls all summer for the Empty Bowls event.

According to Nichols, “she starts with a clump of clay, hand builds a unique bowl, transports the green wear to Barron Collier where Donna Torrance fires it in the Kiln and students paint the bowls.”  After the bowls are glazed and dried, they are packed up to take to the Harry Chapin Empty Bowls Event at Cambier Park in January.  At the 2010 event she donated over 60 bowls.

Last year one of Nichols pieces was selected by the professional potters committee that juries the bowls to be auctioned off at the Empty Bowls Event.  It “tickled her” that her large serving bowl with four serving plates brought in over ninety dollars to be donated to the Harry Chapin Food Bank.  What is even more amazing is that the ninety dollar donation will generate into five times that amount at the food bank.

According to Nichols, “creating bowls for the event is a win, win situation.  I get to sharpen my skills while working on each bowl and someone else benefits from the love that I put into each piece.”  In addition, she claims that creating the pieces has given her the opportunity to meet so many interesting people.  She met her best friend in one of the pottery classes and has encouraged her sister to get involved.  Nichols stated that she never sells her work as she delights in giving it to others.

Whether you choose to create pottery, paint bowls or make a donation, “being a part of helping others should just naturally come from within you,” states Nichols.  Take the opportunity to help others this Saturday, January 29th at Cambier Park from 11am-2pm in the Park Pavilion, where Cindy Nichols will once again be one of the featured artists auctioning a set of her beautiful creations.  You might just end up being the fortunate recipient of an Empty Bowl.

For more information visit http://www.emptybowlsnaples.com or email naplesemptybowls@yahoo.com

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Naples Empty Bowls, a nonprofit organization, is committed to raising awareness of the issue of hunger the Collier County. This goal is achieved through an annual fundraiser event and other initiatives that support local food and hunger programs.