8:30 PM on January 28: flames slowly started to engulf a building at 1402 Greenleaf Street in Evanston. Joanna Kramer, owner of Joanna Kramer Ceramics, was having dinner with a friend in Chicago when her phone suddenly started to erupt with messages from concerned neighbors of the studio. Shortly after, the building’s landlord called and alerted her about some smoke coming out of her space. Kramer hastily left her dinner and upon arriving at the building, she became aware that there was more than just smoke involved. “It felt very surreal to walk up and see a lot of fire trucks and people standing around,” Kramer recalled.
An hour went by and the Evanston Fire Department rang for a three-alarm fire, calling in firefighters from Chicago to help put out the blaze. At around 10 PM, the fire was extinguished, but this was only the beginning of a long road to recovery for the business owners who had lost their livelihoods that night. Initially thinking the fire would be put out quickly and her pottery would be salvaged, Kramer was devastated upon seeing the destruction the fire caused to her studio space – the roof had completely burned and collapsed in. Immediately Kramer thought about all the hard work that her students had put into their ceramics, which had been destroyed in an hour.
“I teach ceramics to kids and adults,” she explained, “and one of the first things I thought of was that there was so much work of theirs in the studio. I can remake everything, but for a lot of people, this was their first mug, and they spent two hours making it, or a bowl that they were excited about.”
Fortunately, no one was hurt in the fire, but Ware Ceramic Studio, Fireheads Clay Studio, Shaina Young Wellness and an office for Stuart-Rodgers Photography all had countless amounts of equipment and pieces of art ruined.
Most of these businesses were a part of a tight-knit community: the West Village artists. The studios were well known as places where artists could hold open galleries for Evanston Made, where people could take classes and where creatives could make pieces for sale. Dog owners walking by Stuart-Rodgers Photography could always expect a treat for their animals, and trick-or-treaters on Halloween knew to stop there for candy. Naturally, when news broke of the destruction the fire had caused, friends and neighbors came together to support the grieving studio owners in true West Village fashion.
The next day, Emily Grayson and Susie Pratt launched a GoFundMe for Kramer, with a goal of 30,000 dollars. Dianna Hamann set up a GoFundMe for Shaina Young, and Cassie Rodgers (of Stuart-Rodgers Photography) for the other business owners in the building. For some time, Valerie Kahan, owner of Art Makers Outpost, a unique art studio that repurposes art supplies from Evanston to create pieces, had been planning a four-year-anniversary party for her business. However, once Kahan heard of the devastating fire, she had the idea to turn this party for her own business into a live fundraising event for the businesses on the 1400 block of Greenleaf. Kahan quickly networked with more musicians and sponsors, as she knew this event would have to be big enough to repair the huge damages caused by the fire. While business owners were starting to have money trickle in through GoFundMes, Kahan visited them and discussed her plan to raise money and awareness in order to get the studios back and running.
“It’s up to all of us in our community to support each other and help each other as business owners and artists,” Kahan said. In the days following, she worked tirelessly along with Evanston Made to post flyers around Evanston and on social media in an effort to gain traction for the event and the GoFundMes of individual owners.
On February 3rd at her studio for Art Maker’s Outpost, Kahan hosted EvanstonAide – a live fundraiser in collaboration with Evanston Made. Approximately 250 people, including the Evanston Fire Department, came to donate. Businesses, supportive friends and neighbors paid an entrance fee, bought raffle tickets and participated in a silent auction, with all proceeds going towards the four Greenleaf businesses. Attendees could also enjoy food from local restaurants while hearing music from Evanston musicians.
According to Kahan, “We had a humongous turnout as far as items and people go.” Altogether, EvanstonAide raised around 18,000 dollars that were then distributed among the business owners.
“It was really a community event,” Kramer remarked.
Nearly two months later, Kramer’s GoFundMe had exceeded its goal by almost 1000 dollars.
“The amount of support has been overwhelming – it has made me cry,” she said, “I am so grateful to be a part of a community that values the work that I do and the space that I create it in.”
For Joanna Kramer, being a business owner had allowed her to do what she loved on her own terms. Even with the support of the GoFundMe, her life was on hold, and she dealt with considerable uncertainty about where she would go next. When Lisa Degliantoni, owner of Evanston Made, offered up her beloved studio/gallery at 1100 Florence to Kramer, she was thrilled.
“I’m looking forward to getting back to making,” Kramer said, “I’ve had to order all new equipment and supplies, so I’m just excited to start creating again.”
On March 1st, Kramer moved into Degliantoni’s studio and has since been slowly getting her livelihood back. This month, she hopes to fully resume her classes and personal pottery-making. As for the residents of West Village, they are happy to have one of the businesses back.
“The neighborhood is a great support for artists and for creatives, so I’m really excited to stay there,” Kramer said, bubbling with anticipation about seeing familiar friendly faces (and dogs).
When asked about ways to continue to support her business, Kramer responded, “I think for all the small businesses, just shop small,” she recommended, “You’re directly helping your neighbors by doing that, and helping your neighbors’ kids who are probably sitting in classrooms next to you.”
Valerie Kahan and Art Maker’s Outpost continue to show their support as well: “They are our fellow artists and businesses, and while EvanstonAide was a one-off event, we will continue to support them via social media,” she stated.
Now, three months after the fire, Kramer is looking at the devastation with a new perspective: “I am floored; I still am. People are still reaching out and offering help, and it makes me want to help other people even more.”
