'Hundred Dresses Project' grows tenfold through community engagement

"The Hundred Dresses Project” has expanded to more than 1,000 dresses in The Gallery at Penn College, where a reception was held Thursday evening to honor the artistry, empathy and outreach stirred by the engaging endeavor. On display through July 23, the exhibit features more than 150 dress prints created by professional artists and over 1,000 dress prints made by youngsters in six area school districts. The outreach to area schools was initiated by Penny Griffin Lutz, gallery director, and supported by a grant from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. The creator of “The Hundred Dresses Project” – artist Crystal Cawley – traveled from Maine to offer a gallery talk at the reception and facilitate a Friday workshop on paper and fiber art. An educator at Maine College of Art, she described the inspiration and origins behind the project and discussed the importance of creating art to “cope with hardship,” as the young heroine did in the classic children’s book, “The Hundred Dresses,” and the ability of art to create kindness and community. Outreach efforts will continue with performances of “The Hundred Dresses” by Studio 570 in the gallery on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, June 13-30. “The Hundred Dresses” exhibit can be viewed during the gallery’s summer hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Fridays, and 1 to 4 p.m. Sundays. (The gallery is closed Saturdays and Mondays, and will be closed July 3-7.)

– Photos by Cindy Davis Meixel, writer/photo editor,
and Tim Wegman, student photographer

A young visitor enjoys an “interactive dress” on which felt shapes can be added to create a design; some of the shapes offer positive words: honesty, respect, kindness, empathy and patience.

Copies of the classic children’s book that inspired the project are available for reading in the gallery.

Expanding on the creative collaboration, Cochran Primary School students model dresses inspired by their dress prints. The dresses were made by Elizabeth Wislar (center rear), Lycoming College costume designer and costume shop manager. Enjoying the “premiere” with their students are Elizabeth A. Sauers (left rear), third grade teacher, and Chelsea Cramer (right rear), art teacher.

Louise Surujbally shows her print that served as the foundation for her new dress. Surujbally just completed third grade at Cochran Primary School.

Gallerygoers get acquainted with the featured finery.

The reception offered cookies – crafted in the college’s Le Jeune Chef Restaurant kitchens – that matched the theme.

Kind thoughts carried by creativity and string

Among the professional artists' dress prints is this textured piece by Erica Licea-Kane. The artist applied acrylic paint via a pastry bag, decorating her print like a cake.

The project creator addresses the audience, holding the children’s book that started it all: Eleanor Estes’ “The Hundred Dresses.”

The gallery audience is attentive to Cawley’s insights. More than 130 individuals visited The Gallery at Penn College on Thursday evening.

Artist Eli Sobel’s dress is more pin than print!

The gears were turning for artist Susanna DuBois … meshing well with Penn College’s technical approach.

A guest captures an artist’s statement on a gallery wall.

Cochran art teacher Chelsea Cramer and daughter enjoy the creative talents of area youth.

More of the professional artists' work adorns the wall ...

... "dressing up" the room to the enchantment of patrons.

Families enjoy the gathering.

A perfect marriage of space and substance, as clotheslines (and a gorgeous blue sky) fill the large gallery window

Visitors delight in the engaging exhibit.