Tanja Hollander

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The Ephemera Project Collaboration with students from The Telling Room

The Telling Room Summer Vacation Camps 2022

The Telling Room at Oak Hill High School, Wales, ME 2022

The Telling Room Summer Vacation Camps 2023

At The Telling Room, we empower youth through writing and share their voices with the world. As a literary arts education organization focused on young writers ages 6 to 18, we seek to build confidence, strengthen literacy skills, and provide real audiences for our students. We believe that the power of creative expression can change our communities and prepare our youth for success both now and in the future.

When artist Tanja Hollander approached us about a potential collaboration—it was an easy yes. An opportunity for writing, self-reflection, audience, and creating a bridge with a local artist perfectly aligned with what we value. Our middle and high school summer campers were able to capture their stories through their relics. Whether writing about a bent pin to hold their hijab, or a runner's bib from their first 5K, students dug deep within their drawers and themselves to find the things that would serve as a time capsule of their young lives. Said 16 year-old camper Willow Croce, "I had a lot of fun choosing my items because I have a box filled with small things that hold a lot of meaning to me. It was so interesting to look through the whole box and be able to almost relive some of the experiences in my head." - Sonya Tomlinson, Young Writers and Leaders Program Lead

Nell, Student, 14, Maine

The experience brought back many memories that I’m glad I reconnected with. I’m hoping the items get back to me. I’m glad I can contribute to this project, though.

(Click on images to read descriptions. On mobile tap dot, bottom right corner of screen.)

It was so fun to look at all my little mementos. Choosing just four was the hardest part. I want them back, because they’re all very special to me, but I have the memories as well as the physical objects.

(Click on images to read descriptions. On mobile tap dot, bottom right corner of screen.)

It was hard knowing what to pick. No, I wasn’t nervous giving them, I felt they were safe with you.

(Click on images to read descriptions. On mobile tap dot, bottom right corner of screen.)

(Click on images to read descriptions. On mobile tap dot, bottom right corner of screen.)

I didn’t want to send anything to personal. Although the fish is. I still have more. I think it was easy choosing, though. I was nervous giving them to you. No matter what the thing is. I don’t like lending my things to people. It makes me uncomfortable giving them.

(Click on images to read descriptions. On mobile tap dot, bottom right corner of screen.)

It was cool to look through memories and decide which ones to choose. I was a little nervous sending the items. But I knew they could inspire others.

(Click on images to read descriptions. On mobile tap dot, bottom right corner of screen.)

Manuel, Student, 14, South Portland, Maine

The experience of choosing brought a lot of scary memories. I wasn’t really nervous giving the items, I was mostly nervous holding them.

(Click on images to read descriptions. On mobile tap dot, bottom right corner of screen.)

Laura, Student, 14, Portland, Maine

I knew I wanted to do things that had a meaning because they’re from my family. I wasn’t really nervous sending them to you.

(Click on images to read descriptions. On mobile tap dot, bottom right corner of screen.)

Zephyr, 14, Student, Biddeford, Maine

It was interesting choosing, as I don’t trend to hold on to these types of things. My mind and eyes weren’t really used to searching out for this stuff. I wasn’t really nervous sending them. Many people have done this before, and there would have been complaints if you mismanaged their items.

(Click on images to read descriptions. On mobile tap dot, bottom right corner of screen.)

Ava, Student, 13, Portland, Maine

It was very easy choosing the items, not a hard choice. I was very nervous sending them.

(Click on images to read descriptions. On mobile tap dot, bottom right corner of screen.)

Percy, Student, 13, Portland, Maine

It was challenging choosing the items. I wasn’t nervous sending them. I’ll get ‘em back.

(Click on images to read descriptions. On mobile tap dot, bottom right corner of screen.)

Nayel, Telling Room student/Professional Dreamer, 12, Trenton, Maine

I was away on a trip so I didn’t have my home to choose from so that narrowed down my choice. It was hard choosing 4! I was little nervous sending them.

(Click on images to read descriptions. On mobile tap dot, bottom right corner of screen.)

Jenni Flynn, Student+Athlete, 15, Turner, Maine

Choosing was like a walk – a painful walk down memory lane. Of course I was nervous sending them to you. Despite what you said – I still don’t know you. :)

(Click on images to read descriptions. On mobile tap dot, bottom right corner of screen.)

Nyx, Student, 13, South Portland, Maine

It was memorable and stressful finding the perfect items. I was nervous sending them because I don’t quite know you, it’s hard to give you sentimental items.

(Click on images to read descriptions. On mobile tap dot, bottom right corner of screen.)

Olivia Diamond, Teacher, 22, Denver, Colorado

I had to choose from what was already in my bag, and there wasn’t a lot that felt meaningful. I wasn’t really nervous sending the items.

(Click on images to read descriptions. On mobile tap dot, bottom right corner of screen.)

Madeleine, Student teacher, 21, Boston, Massachusetts

I picked these things out of my wallet and work bag when I got to work this morning. I’m an extremely emotional and sentimental person, but objects have never been difficult for me to part with. I love getting rid of old clothes/things I don’t use anymore.

(Click on images to read descriptions. On mobile tap dot, bottom right corner of screen.)

Marlin Hipai Pamba, Teaching Artist, 22, Portland, Maine

I just picked things on my desk that were not work related. I was not at all nervous sending them to you.

(Click on images to read descriptions. On mobile tap dot, bottom right corner of screen.)

Gaby Herszkopf, Student, 13, Portland, Maine

At first it was very hard to choose the perfect objects but once I found them I knew they were the ones instantly and they automatically brought back so many fantastic memories.

(Click on images to read descriptions. On mobile tap dot, bottom right corner of screen.)

Pi Crosby, Student, 15, Boston, Massachusetts

I found the first one or two relatively easy to choose, but they were definitely tougher after that, because I had so many potential options.

(Click on images to read descriptions. On mobile tap dot, bottom right corner of screen.)

Owen, Student, 12, Portland, Maine

The experience was good.

(Click on images to read descriptions. On mobile tap dot, bottom right corner of screen.)

Willow Croce, Student, 16, Portland, ME

I had a lot of fun choosing my items because I have a box filled with small things that hold a lot of meaning to me. It was so interesting to look through the whole box and be able to almost relive some of the experiences in my head.

(Click on images to read descriptions. On mobile tap dot, bottom right corner of screen.)

Jamila, Student, 13, Westbrook, Maine

The experience of choosing the items were a bit nerve-wracking, I felt as I had had nothing to place memories on. Even so, it was a great experience. I found things from ages ago, so that was very nostalgic. Most of my “ephemera” are either gone or buried somewhere else.

(Click on images to read descriptions. On mobile tap dot, bottom right corner of screen.)

Delphia, Student, 13, Congo

It was easy choosing because they mean a lot to me.

(Click on images to read descriptions. On mobile tap dot, bottom right corner of screen.)

Anthony Vasquez, Student, 16, Portland, Maine

It was difficult choosing, but when I saw these items, I knew.

(Click on images to read descriptions. On mobile tap dot, bottom right corner of screen.)

Fadoun Barkat, Student, 12, Djibouti, Djibouti

It was hard because I don’t have a lot of ephemera. And the ones I do have were too big to fit in the bag.

(Click on images to read descriptions. On mobile tap dot, bottom right corner of screen.)

Salmo Mohamed, Student, 18, Minneapolis, Minnesota

(Click on images to read descriptions. On mobile tap dot, bottom right corner of screen.)

Emilia Lehr, Student, 15, Portland, Maine

This experience was extremely nostalgic. I have never realized how many things I have a symbolic attachment to, I love taking the time to carefully look through everything.

(Click on images to read descriptions. On mobile tap dot, bottom right corner of screen.)

Ellis Retzer, Student, 14, New York, New York

It was difficult, because every item I own has a story, and the task of choosing the most important ones was more complex than I first thought. I am glad I did it, though, because it brought back memories that it turns out are important to me.

(Click on images to read descriptions. On mobile tap dot, bottom right corner of screen.)

Natalia, Student, 14, Luanda, Angola

It brought back a lot of memories of what I was doing that day to maybe what I was wearing. I also remembered the type of person I was during all those times. Also, some things I forgot about, I probably stuffed half of these things under my bed or just lying around the room cause I never really thought much of it.

(Click on images to read descriptions. On mobile tap dot, bottom right corner of screen.)

Elle Foley, Student, 13, Portland, Maine

It was a very fun and nostalgic experience. When I was looking though my old stuff, it brought back so many memories, and I am so glad I did it.

(Click on images to read descriptions. On mobile tap dot, bottom right corner of screen.)