Press Release

Brown Bag Lecture Presentation by John Hartom - Empty Bowls

PONTIAC, Michigan -- (November 5, 2002) The Office of Arts, Culture & Film presents a lecture by John Hartom, co-founder and CEO of the Imagine/Render Group, entitled Empty Bowls, on Thursday, November 21, 2002, from noon to 1:00 p.m. in the Information Technology Lecture Hall.

In 1990, John Hartom, a high school art teacher in Oxford, Michigan, helped his students solve a problem. They were searching for a way to raise funds to support a food drive. What evolved was a class project to make ceramic bowls for a fund raising meal. Guests were served a simple meal of soup and bread, and were invited to keep the bowl as a reminder of hunger in the world.

By the following year the originators had developed this concept into Empty Bowls. The Imagine /RENDER Group, a 501(c)3 organization, was created to promote the project and is dedicated to positive and lasting social change through the arts, education and projects that build community. Their goals are to raise money to help organizations fight hunger, to raise awareness about the issues of hunger and food security and to help bring about an attitude that will not allow hunger to exist. This organization has evolved since 1990 into an international awareness group that has raised millions of dollars for anti-hunger organizations.

This lecture will give insight to the importance of fighting hunger as well as take an in-depth look into the Empty Bowls project and the Imagine/Render Group. Mr. Hartom will also bring bowls that will be available to purchase. The presentation will take place on Thursday, November 21 from noon to 1 p.m. in the Lecture Hall of the Oakland County Information Technology, Building 49East on the County campus at 1200 North Telegraph Road, in Pontiac.

For further information, please contact Kristie Everett Zamora, director of Arts, Culture and Film, at (248) 858-0415.