By KURT HAUGLIE

khauglie@mininggazette.com

HANCOCK – Marcee Garland and her daughter, Sarah, were attending the Finlandia University Soup-A-Bowl event for the first time Saturday, and they were glad they did.

“We love it,” Marcee said. “We love shopping local.”

The event, which was conducted in the community room at the Finlandia Jutila Center for Global Design and Business, was a fundraiser for the ceramics program in the International School of Art and Design (ISAD), where bowls made by students were sold for $10 to $20. With the purchase, 10 different kinds of soups were offered, and purchasers could have as much soup as they wanted.

Sarah was particularly pleased with the chicken noodle.

“It was very good,” she said.

Kenyon Hansen, ISAD ceramics instructor, said Saturday was the third year for the event, which seems to be popular. A little more than an hour after the doors opened, most of the bowls were gone.

“We had about 200 bowls, and we’ve gone down to 20,” he said. “People want to get here and have the pick of the bowls, and (while) the soup is still hot.”

Hansen said the Soup-A-Bowl has been so popular, it will be an annual event.

“Every year it gets a little bigger and a little better,” he said.

There is discussion about expanding the event and adding plates for salads and desserts.

“Maybe at some point we’ll mix it up,” he said.

Finlandia ceramics major William Thompson, who was at one of the tables where the bowls were sold, is a freshman who just started working with clay four months ago.

“I caught on quickly,” he said. “I have a degree in physical therapy that I’m not using because I want to do this.”

Thompson said he’s not concerned that being a ceramic artist for a living will present a financial challenge to him.

“I don’t aspire to have much money,” he said. “I think it’s an honest way to make a living.”