The label of "professional potter" is not one that is earned overnight.

Creating the perfect bowl takes practice, and potter Linda Bohnsack has the practice down pat, yet she's still hesitant to call herself a professional.

"I've only taken one six-week class," she admitted. "It just takes a lot of time to get better at."

Since the Empty Bowls Banquet began in 2006, Bohnsack has been very active in the process. She is the co-chairwoman of the event with Southeast Missouri State University professor Dr. Ann Mariette and has been creating and storing the bowls since the beginning.

The banquet takes place each November, and for $12 participants can pick out a handcrafted bowl to accompany their dinner. This year the soup options were vegetable and bean and sausage.

With bowl selections made, patrons enjoy the meal at the ninth annual Empty Bowls Banquet on Sunday at the Salvation Army Worship and Community Center in Cape Girardeau.

The goal each year is to make between 200 and 400 bowls. Over the years the numbers have fluctuated, but it is safe to say that in Bohnsack's career she's made more than 2,000 bowls.

"It takes about an hour a bowl," Bohnsack explained. "Between making it, firing it, glazing and firing again, I would say it takes about an hour."

Then there is also an hour painting process, but for that Bohnsack calls in help.

Over the years multitudes of Southeast students have helped paint the bowls for the Empty Bowl Banquet, but for the first time three Costa Rican exchange students got to help with the process as well. Bohnsack was excited to be able to share this experience with the students, and said Mariette was responsible for expanding awareness about their project.

The students plan to take their new bowls home with them when they return Friday.

Jessi Snell examines one of the bowls available at the ninth annual Empty Bowls Banquet on Sunday at the Salvation Army Worship and Community Center in Cape Girardeau.

More than 60 Southeast students helped paint the bowls this year. Bohnsack offers studio space at her gallery, Artisan Gifts, 821-A Broadway, for painting. She will continue to sell the bowls until Christmas.

This year's banquet raised $2,002 in handmade pottery, selling 160 bowls.

Bohnsack said the numbers were down slightly from last year, but that that's to be expected with time. She was still very grateful for the number of people who attended and said she felt very blessed for all the support.

"There were lots of familiar faces this year, and we are very blessed. ... Even those who don't need another bowl can come and donate to the Salvation Army," she said.

The Salvation Army sponsors the banquet, and all the money raised goes toward its Meals with Friends program, which feeds the community every month.

A patron selects two bowls at the ninth annual Empty Bowls Banquet on Sunday at the Salvation Army Worship and Community Center in Cape Girardeau.

The meals are free to the public, from noon to 1 p.m. the last week of the month, Monday through Friday. The next meal will take place Nov. 24 at the Salvation Army, 701 Good Hope St.

In addition to the banquet, bowls can be purchased at the annual craft fair in November or through a silent auction that will take place Friday through Dec. 5 at the Arts Council at 32 N. Main St.

The craft fair will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 22 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 23, with the bowls being available at booth No. 97 in the Osage Centre.

As for the silent auction, Bohnsack said 15 bowls are professionally molded and painted and available at this month's First Friday event.

smaue@semissourian.com

388-3644

Pertinent Address:

Salvation Army, 701 Good Hope St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.

Osage Centre, 1625 North Kingshighway, Cape Girardeau, Mo.

Artisan Gifts, 821-A Broadway, Cape Girardeau, Mo.

Arts Council, 32 N. Main St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.