A week in Maine: teaching jewelry-making as a volunteer at Camp Sunshine
Updated: 6 days ago
'When we lift others,
We lift ourselves' Donato Tramuto
This year, at the end of July, I lived one of the most powerful, enriching and emotional adventures of my life.
Some encounters in life are really meant to be and so, many years ago, destiny made my path cross the one of Donato Tramuto and Jeff Porter, who 25 years ago started the Tramuto Porter foundation, which supports Camp Sunshine located at Sebago Lake (Maine). The camp hosts activities and provides cures and devices to children, young adults and parents suffering from terminal illnesses and hearing problems caused by chemo therapies. The camp is a wonderful site, surrounded by green, with tall trees, providing an ongoing interaction with nature.
The activities are entertaining and educational, and it was an immense honor for me to have been asked if I could go there and teach my craft as a volunteer, together with my daughter, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary. One-to-one lost-wax workshops, aimed not just at the creation of a piece of jewelry, but at the expression of our inner creativity and emotions. How could I turn down such a great opportunity?
The scenery was beautiful, but more than that it was the people that woke a strong feeling inside me. I met children from age 5 to older adults, all in the midst of a delicate health situation, yet all so happy and grateful, always smiling and full of enthusiasm towards life. They wanted to learn, share and create. They were more than proactive and so open with me, curious about my life and my art. For the whole time I was with them, I was pervaded by a sense of richness, a mix of emotions and a deep sense of gratitude.
During the workshops, we first spoke about the project and the emotions we wanted to convey and give shape to. We suggested the kids to go find inspiration in nature and at their return they drafted a drawing. We proceeded from there with the creation in wax.
I brought all their works back to Venice and will have them cast in metal and eventually send them back to Maine to their creators.
In addition to the workshops, I attended various activities and events. On the 30th of July there was the gala dinner for the anniversary and it was an incredible honor for me to have been asked to give one of my most recognizable jewels, the Venezia ring, as one of the prizes of the charity auction. Never before in my life was I overwhelmed by emotions so strong. They kept thanking me, but I was the one who felt grateful for such an incredible experience.
I also want to share that it was an immense joy to have my daughter with me. This event represents so many of the values I hold deep and care to pass down to my children.
There are so many things I want to say, but words will never be able to return the greatness of those days spent in Maine. Being friends with Donato and Jeff is inspiring. During a speech Donato said that when we lift others, we lift ourselves too and I couldn’t agree more. Focusing our attention on others and on practicing kindness, we play a significant role in making the world a better place for all of us. I will be forever grateful for this.
Special thanks to:
Natalie Alcantara, the entire camp Sunshine board, particularly to Joanne Bean and Stephanie Feyler, Mary Bentley and of course Donato Tramuto and Jeff Porter.
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