At The Depot’s Empty Bowl’s Event, a single handmade bowl connects many people: the potter who shaped it, the person who brings it home, and the community members who benefit from the event.
One of the local potters contributing to this year’s event is Sue Maheu, founder of Boue, a pottery studio in Montreal West where people of all ages can discover the joy of working with clay.
Meet Sue from Boue
Sue first discovered pottery about twenty years ago. “From the moment my hands touched the clay, I was hooked,” she says.
What began as occasional classes grew into a deeper practice. Sue set up a small studio in her garage, and started selling pieces online. When a retail space opened a few streets from her home after the pandemic, she decided to take a leap. Today, that space is Boue, where she teaches workshops in hand-building and wheel throwing, while continuing her own studio practice.
When it came to supporting The Depot’s Empty Bowls fundraiser, the connection felt natural. Having lived in the neighbourhood for years, Sue had already encountered The Depot through school fundraisers and community donation drives.
“I was so pleased when Sonia walked into the studio and asked if I was willing to donate soup bowls.”
For Sue, the beauty of handmade pottery lies in the connection it creates between maker and user.
“I naturally gravitate toward pieces that are a little imperfect,” she explains. “I like to feel the bumps and nicks where the maker’s fingers pushed too hard… It’s a way of connecting with the maker and their work. A person made this, not a machine.”
More than a Bowl
At Empty Bowls, that human connection stretches further than the hands that shape the bowl and the person who brings it home. Each bowl becomes part of a larger circle of care, helping support neighbours experiencing food insecurity through programs that make healthy food more accessible in our community.
“…it’s amazing that such a small thing as a soup bowl can benefit so many: The Depot, the people who participate in its programs, the person who buys the bowl and the potter. It’s a big win for everybody.”
Join us at Empty Bowls to enjoy a warm bowl of soup, choose a handmade bowl to take home, and learn more about The Depot’s work strengthening food security in our community.