As I am washing windows out in the newly rebuilt studio I keep thinking about how different the events would have been if we had not had insurance on the building. Original our thoughts were if something ever happened how we would replace the equipment. We thought of all the stuff you buy over the years. A kiln here, a wheel there a pug mill- how would we replace all the large ticket items. So the decision was to buy business insurance.
We did this a number of years ago and one year when things were really bad we actually let the insurance go.
That was the year Mark had put new fans on the gas burners and one vibrated over towards a wall and caught the wall on fire- he was here looked out and saw what he thought was snow- can’t be snow it’s June. He ran out grab the fire extinguisher and put it right out.
We also keep the dead leaves away from the outside of the chimney and from piling around the backside of the kiln- that was tied to another small fire of leaves. We rake around the kiln as needed, but especially in the fall.
Back to fire insurance.
I always wonder about potters who worked out of their homes are you insured or do you figure your home owners is enough.
Because we were careful. We use hot wax and there was a sign we made and a habit we enforce with one another.
The sign said, “DO NOT LEAVE THIS ROOM WITH THE WAX ON!”
We checked behind one another we never leave a kiln firing unattended. And that includes an electric kiln.
So- a fire anyway- a bolt out of the sky.
So without being too preachy I hope the majority of the potters out there take the time and money to protect your business with insurance.
And, no I am not getting a cut from the industry-just a word of caution.
M
We did this a number of years ago and one year when things were really bad we actually let the insurance go.
That was the year Mark had put new fans on the gas burners and one vibrated over towards a wall and caught the wall on fire- he was here looked out and saw what he thought was snow- can’t be snow it’s June. He ran out grab the fire extinguisher and put it right out.
We also keep the dead leaves away from the outside of the chimney and from piling around the backside of the kiln- that was tied to another small fire of leaves. We rake around the kiln as needed, but especially in the fall.
Back to fire insurance.
I always wonder about potters who worked out of their homes are you insured or do you figure your home owners is enough.
Because we were careful. We use hot wax and there was a sign we made and a habit we enforce with one another.
The sign said, “DO NOT LEAVE THIS ROOM WITH THE WAX ON!”
We checked behind one another we never leave a kiln firing unattended. And that includes an electric kiln.
So- a fire anyway- a bolt out of the sky.
So without being too preachy I hope the majority of the potters out there take the time and money to protect your business with insurance.
And, no I am not getting a cut from the industry-just a word of caution.
M
3 comments:
I'm with you 100%. After 'the incident' I talked with a lot of my artists, who I told about the fire. They often said, 'gosh, is there anything I can do'. And, I had the perfect answer... I said to them, 'If you don't have insurance on your instruments or equipment - GET IT'!
I was really surprised at the number of artists that thought they didn't need it or couldn't afford it. Honestly, it baffled me as much as when I hear about individuals not having health insurance.
It's expensive but it's for that 'bolt out of the sky' moment. I always thought you and Dad were lucky after we would hear about other studio fires. I even remember the house chimney fire when Joel and I were kids... and insurance is assurance that people can move on and rebuild their lives.
I think you and Dad made a very wise decision to have insurance and, even though this was a terrible event, you are able to come out on the other side of it to only rebuild, reinvent and overcome!
I love you! XOXO
Mark & Meredith:
My friend, Louise, & I make an annual trip if not a semi-annual trip to Seagrove every year. I didn't know you had experienced a fire this summer. Reading your words made me realize just how brave you are!
I must tell you a story that happened to me in early September. While visiting my mother (she just turned 85) in Cincy, O, we toured an antique commissioned shop and as I roamed the aisles, I spotted a Whynot piece of pottery. When I took it to the check-out counter, they wrote it up as a Wyandot pottery vase. You can imagine how surprised I was to know that your cultural heritage included North American natives not to mention other cultural ties !!! :)
That special find has made its way back home to NC and is now an integral part of my homelife Whynot collection. Know you're in my thoughts and I look forward to being back in your area soon.
Amy
Hi Amy- we use to get mail addressed to whyno Pottery- I always read this as wino pottery just for laughs.
Thank you for your kind words we feel better daily as we rebuild our work area.
We are just back from a show and a visit to both Mother's who are 80 and 82!
We hope to see you soon in Whynot!
M
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