Beverly Cramer is a dedicated volunteer at Old Town Artisan Studios. She moved to La Quinta about 14 years ago and enjoys living in the area. Cramer loves to play tennis and mahjong. She also volunteers with the American Cancer Society, La Quinta Art Celebration, and Tools for Tomorrow. Volunteering is healing for Cramer and brings a lot of positive and passionate people to her.
“It just comes naturally for me to promote things and get involved in something that I can feel my heart is really asking for,” she explains.
Her journey with OTAS began when her friend convinced her to join a pottery class. She says, “I couldn’t get it.” Her instructor said her hands were just too strong and she “didn’t let it flow.” Cramer thought her art endeavors were over. She said to her friend, “I can’t go with you anymore because I can’t do this.”
“Well, what about glass,” her friend asked.
This question changed everything for her. “I love it,” she says. Cramer has been enjoying her fused glass work. She even made her first glass sale at the OTAS spring sale, where students can sell their pieces to help fund the art programs.
Cramer began volunteering in the glass classes every Tuesday and Thursday. Most recently, she volunteered at a fused glass workshop with SouthWest Church, which she says was very moving to her. Volunteering has allowed Cramer to create a strong bond with OTAS’ glass instructor, Kelly Walter. “We have great camaraderie, I feel like our relationship has really been explored,” she says. Cramer believes that Old Town Artisan Studios takes care of children and adults that have not always been exposed to art. She says a big part of life is creating and being exposed to art and music, which is why it is so important that those are offered and available to the community. “There is something for every child here,” she emphasized.
“It’s unfortunate more people don’t know about Old Town Artisan Studios,” Cramer admits. She often invites friends to campus and encourages others to take classes and volunteer.
“It bugs me when people have been raised here, but don’t even know it [OTAS],” she jokes.
Cramer attributes her volunteerism to being diagnosed with brain cancer 15 years ago. Her diagnosis fueled a passion to live her life fully and encourage others to do the same. For Cramer, waking up every day is her joy. She reveals that, to her, OTAS is a healing place and she feels her efforts here have come full circle.
“I’ve involved myself in things to heal me, but I also end up healing other people,” she reflects.
Cramer’s passion and spirit to further the OTAS mission of “bringing art to those who need it most,” embodies what it means to be a volunteer at OTAS. She hopes her experiences can help other people.
“It really is a healing place, and look what it’s done for me. Just this summer, working with her [Kelly], and getting to meet more people, it makes me feel good,” she shared.
