December 9, 2002

Don't throw away your old dresses. Donate them.

Laurel Jay Carpenter, a student working on a master's degree in fine arts at UConn, needs dresses for a large-scale project. In an attempt to forge a link to the community in Connecticut, Carpenter, a performance and installation artist, will fashion the dresses into one, hopefully mile-long, red dress which will be worn in an outdoor performance this spring on Horsebarn Hill in Storrs.

Laurel Jay Carpenter, a graduate student in fine arts, sews together some of the dresses she has received so far in her collection for her mile-long red dress piece. Photo by Shannon McAvoy

The dresses can be of any style, size, and quality. All shades of red are preferred, but other light colors that can be dyed will also work, Carpenter says.

The dresses will be permanently stitched together to create the larger dress, and cannot be returned. If a name and contact - home address or e-mail address - is included, Carpenter will keep donors apprised of the progress of the piece and invite them to the performance. Donors may include a description of their connection to the dress, which will be embroidered to the piece before it is made part of the larger artwork.

Dresses may be dropped off at the office of art and art history in the Art Building, Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., or mailed to Laurel Jay Carpenter, Department of Art & Art History, University of Connecticut, 875 Coventry Road, Storrs, CT 06269-1099.