For years, Saffron Collective Studios has quietly and consistently supported the Cochrane Food Bank through its heartfelt participation in the Empty Bowls initiative.
Jane Kluk, the studio’s current owner, continues to keep this tradition alive.
“I was a member for about four or five years before I purchased the business and helped out then too,” Kluk said. “It’s kind of the time each year that we get to extend our really awesome and giving community beyond the studio and to help support the rest of the Cochrane community.”
Empty Bowls is an international movement that invites artists to create handcrafted bowls and other pottery pieces for sale, with proceeds donated to local food banks. At Saffron, it’s been embraced with passion and creativity, so much so that members begin working on the pieces as early as January.
“This is about eight months of hard work that’s gone into making these pieces,” said Kluk, who took over the studio nearly two years ago. “Saffron Studios has actually been in Cochrane for almost 20 years now, and one of my favourite things about it has always been the community.”
This year, 148 unique pottery items including bowls, mugs, and vases will be available for purchase at the Cochrane Farmers’ Market on August 9. Half of Saffron’s 75-member community contributed their time, talent, and clay to the cause.
“Traditionally, Empty Bowls is usually just that, bowls,” Kluk noted. “But we’ve branched out. We know people connect with different kinds of pottery, so we’ve created a variety of pieces.”
The initiative is also a chance for the studio to be more sustainable. The pottery-making process naturally results in leftover or unusable clay. Rather than discard it, Saffron artists reclaim and recycle this material into beautiful, functional works for the fundraiser.
The impact reaches far beyond the studio walls. For the Cochrane Food Bank, the support is vital.
“We are thankful to be recipients of funding from the Empty Bowls fundraiser, hosted by Saffron Studios in partnership with the Cochrane Farmers’ Market,” said Matt Mitchell, director of the Cochrane Food Bank. “We’re always grateful to be supported by members of our community, our donors, volunteers, and event hosts.”
As the August 9 market approaches, Kluk is excited, not just for the sales, but for the sense of connection the event brings. The Cochrane Farmers Market will be at the SLS Centre from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
