Well over 200 people attended the gallery opening of The Art of the Ceramic Bowl at Featherstone this Sunday, which kicked off with a fund-raising effort that gave new meaning to a common Vineyard abbreviation. The event, which sought to raise money for the purchase of Featherstone’s new kiln, was Buy Your Own Bowl.

Over the past six months, local artists had worked on crafting 10 to 15 soup-sized bowls apiece, which were available for $25 each. The money landed each guest a handcrafted piece of pottery that was not only beautiful but also practical — immediately after purchasing the bowl, guests headed over to a buffet line, where they could choose from four types of soups to christen their new tableware.

“I don’t usually make ‘useful objects,’” said artist Jennifer Langhammer of Vineyard Haven, a fine art ceramic sculptor who contributed 14 bowls to the effort. But when event organizer Nancy Blank approached her several months ago about helping out, she said, “I was all on board.”

Deborah Buress of Vineyard Haven agreed. “I thought it was a wonderful way to promote Featherstone and to help them,” she said. “And look at the bowls — they’re beautiful!”

Because the choice of a bowl was much more than the simple act of choosing a vessel for soup, guests put a great deal of thought into which piece to take home.

“That’s what makes it fantastic,” said Cecily Greenaway, Mrs. Langhammer’s mother. “You really have to look at the artwork . . . it gets people to appreciate what they like.”

“To me it’s the best fundraiser,” she added.

Although the soup dinner lasted from 4 to 6 p.m., two thirds of the bowls were sold before 5:30. Cucumber soup, homemade by volunteer Priscilla Sinatra of Edgartown, was gone within the first hour.

couple looks at pottery
Omar and Sheila Rayyan choose a bowl. — Ivy Ashe

“It was my first attempt at cucumber,” said Mrs. Sinatra, “and it all got eaten, so it must have been good.”

Chicken orzo soup was also a popular option, but the two chowders — corn and clam — did not go uneaten. Bread was donated by Rickard’s Bakery.

On the way out, guests stopped at a large washtub to rinse out their new purchases before bringing them home — perhaps for the next BYOB event.