About Grief Bowls
A Journey Through Grief During the Pandemic
The Fragility of Clay: Lessons from Imperfect Bowls
The Fragility of Clay: Lessons from Imperfect Bowls
In the early days of the pandemic, my dad passed away from a brain tumor at the age of 78. With the hospital closed to visitors, none of us could be there during the months he spent in hospice. When he passed, there were no funerals, no services, and no family gatherings to celebrate his life—those moments would wait three long years. Mea
In the early days of the pandemic, my dad passed away from a brain tumor at the age of 78. With the hospital closed to visitors, none of us could be there during the months he spent in hospice. When he passed, there were no funerals, no services, and no family gatherings to celebrate his life—those moments would wait three long years. Meanwhile, my mom was left alone in the home they had shared for over 40 years. With few options for support, she turned to online grief counseling. One of the activities suggested by her group was the Broken Bowl Project, where participants break a ceramic bowl and glue it back together, symbolizing the journey of rebuilding after loss. It helped her—maybe not in every way, but enough to make a difference.
The Fragility of Clay: Lessons from Imperfect Bowls
The Fragility of Clay: Lessons from Imperfect Bowls
The Fragility of Clay: Lessons from Imperfect Bowls
At the same time, I had started taking ceramics classes. One of the biggest surprises was discovering just how many ways a simple bowl can fail. Once you manage to throw a bowl with some symmetry on the wheel, it has to survive drying. Then comes trimming, where one wrong move can poke a hole or leave it too thin. Next is the bisque firin
At the same time, I had started taking ceramics classes. One of the biggest surprises was discovering just how many ways a simple bowl can fail. Once you manage to throw a bowl with some symmetry on the wheel, it has to survive drying. Then comes trimming, where one wrong move can poke a hole or leave it too thin. Next is the bisque firing, where cracks might appear. Finally, there's glazing—a process filled with uncertainty. Glazes can craze, crack, run, or turn out completely different than expected. With so many potential mishaps, I ended up with a lot of imperfect bowls, each made with care but falling short of my vision.
Grief Bowls: Finding Purpose in Imperfection
The Fragility of Clay: Lessons from Imperfect Bowls
Grief Bowls: Finding Purpose in Imperfection
This is where Grief Bowls was born—a way to give these imperfect bowls a second purpose: helping others who are grieving. Each bowl, despite its flaws, is offered free of charge to anyone who needs one for their own healing journey. If you want a bowl for your project, I'll make sure it gets to you—no cost, no questions asked. Each one ca
This is where Grief Bowls was born—a way to give these imperfect bowls a second purpose: helping others who are grieving. Each bowl, despite its flaws, is offered free of charge to anyone who needs one for their own healing journey. If you want a bowl for your project, I'll make sure it gets to you—no cost, no questions asked. Each one carries the hope of providing comfort, connection, and a reminder that even broken things can hold beauty and meaning.