Robert McMillan was unsure if a pottery workshop planned for this weekend could go ahead after a fire in Stratford, Prince Edward Island, destroyed his pottery studio and all of his equipment on October 17.

But the workshop is taking place thanks to the support he receives from friends and potters both on Prince Edward Island and across North America.

“I still can’t believe it. But I’m recovering from the shock and I feel kind of empty now and I’m wondering how I can fill that void again,” McMillan said.

“I lost everything. About $120,000 worth of equipment, my library that I’ve collected for 45 years. Tools, equipment, glazing materials.”

“I’m doing well financially, but I have no way of generating income at the moment. I don’t know how else to say it other than I’ve lost everything.”

A friend from the pottery community started a fundraiser for McMillan and more offers of help came in.

“My supplier in Richmond Hill, Tucker’s Pottery, has donated a kiln. People have donated pottery wheels to him and he will ship them out,” McMillan said.

“The people on the island, potters I’ve known for many years, donate a potter’s wheel, a kiln, tools or work space. It’s just overwhelming.”

“It was really difficult because I’m used to giving so much and now I’m on the receiving end and learning new things.”

“We’re moving on”

McMillan said he was more concerned about some members of his pottery studio – younger potters who were apprentices.

“I’m trying to help them make their pottery for the Christmas season, and they’ve also lost a studio and a production location,” McMillan said.

“I’m turning my garage into a field hospital pottery to allow them to continue making pottery.”

McMillan said it was important to him that the weekend workshop took place, both because of the participants, many of whom came from off-island, and because of himself.

“I felt it was important that if I could do this one thing, it could give meaning to what was happening and that we wouldn’t just stop and give up, but keep going,” McMillan said.

“Potters are notorious for solving the problems we face.”

Supportive community

Robert’s mother Elizabeth was outside the pottery workshop on Prince Edward Island and was in the studio when the fire broke out.

“The only thing I took out is my apron, which is about 40 years old because I wore it at work back then,” said Elizabeth McMillan, who has her own pottery studio in Muskoka, Ontario.

“It is very difficult, very difficult to give up this great dream of Robert’s.”

Elizabeth McMillan was also overwhelmed by the response from the pottery community.

“This is incredible. I just watched one after another step up and say, ‘We’re going to fire these,’ ‘We have clay pigeons,'” she said.

“I think that’s what makes this community so special – that everyone cares about each other and everyone pulls together.”

Special guest potter John Britt from North Carolina said he was also excited about hosting the workshop.

“Potters are fantastic at helping each other. We’re used to kilns breaking down and there are a lot of problems in pottery, so everyone just supports each other,” Britt said.

“The Craft Council and all these people are behind him. So I’m just a small part, but I’ll do my best.”