'Hundred Dresses Project' grows tenfold through community engagement
Friday, June 7, 2019
– 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.