AS AN ART LOVER who also loves soup, the opportunity to buy a handcrafted bowl filled with soup proved a win-win in 2013. Today the annual Souper Bowl is still going strong at the Arts Center of Saint Peter.
This Sunday from 3-6 pm, the Arts Center fundraiser takes place at The Capitol Room, an event venue at 419 South Minnesota Avenue in the heart of downtown St. Peter. Here attendees can choose from an array of artisan bowls hand-thrown by local potters and then filled with a serving of soup from local vendors. Cost for the soup and bowl, yours to keep, is $20.
When I attended 11 years ago, I chose a simple green-with-traces-of-brown bowl for no other reason than I favor simplicity and green, nature’s hue. And I selected chicken wild rice soup because it, too, is a favorite.
In the years that have passed since that pottery purchase, I have used my Saint Peter soup bowl hundreds of times. I love the shape, the feel, the heft of this original piece of usable art. This isn’t just any soup bowl, but rather one made and shaped by the hands of an artist. And that means something to me. I appreciate the work of creatives.
And I value events like the Souper Bowl, which expose people to the arts, bring people together, build community. Sunday will be a busy day in St. Peter as this southern Minnesota city celebrates St. Patrick’s Day in a big way with a parade at 3 pm.
With a cooldown expected on Sunday along with gusty winds, afternoon temps in the 30s will feel like the 20s, according to local forecasters. Seems an ideal day to warm up with a bowl of soup served in an artisan bowl.
© Copyright 2024 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
what a win for all, and I love this initiative
It’s a great idea for sure.
What a wonderful event. You are most definitely a steadfast supporter of the creatives, their art AND the community. ❤️
I agree. Wonderful event. And thank you, Ruth.
We have a local charity, Bread of Life, who does the same thing here several times a year. We have some amazing potters locally and they donate all of the bowls as well. Tomorrow we will go to our church for the biggest fundraiser of the year for them and get our bowls and soup. I have quite a collection in my cupboard and love the variety that we can choose from. I love when communities find unique ways to do fundraising and this is one of my absolute favorites. Your soup looks yummy! I wish that was an option here .
It’s fun to read that Bread of Life does the same in your community. I bet you have quite the collection of original pottery bowls. Enjoy, even if you don’t have chicken wild rice soup.
This is a good idea for a fundraiser. Glad you are making good use of your unique soup bowl.
It truly is a creative idea. I love my soup bowl!
Sorry – I missed the soup! Love good soups!
I didn’t get over to the Souper Bowl this year either. Love soup, just like you, Gunny.
Your soup and bowl look so enticing! I looked up a recipe for chicken and wild rice soup. That will be a first for me.
Chicken and wild rice soup may be more a Minnesota thing given wild rice grows in the northern part of our state on Indigenous land. I also love Chicken Wild Rice Hotdish.
Love the bowl! Nad yes, today’s weather is cold and yucky here, too.
It feels like winter is back. Yesterday was a day for holing up at home (after church) and reading.