Eleanor Estes’ classic children’s book, The Hundred Dresses, is the story of an immigrant schoolgirl who is teased by her classmates for her accent, name, clothes, and her family’s poverty. The book, which is still in print, was first published in 1944 and is as pertinent now as it was at that time. The book explores themes of acceptance, inclusion, art, empathy, and finding the courage to stand up for what is right. This exhibition was created by artist Crystal Cawley who was inspired by Estes’ book. She sent over 150 artists an invitation to read the book and embellish a 14 x 11” letterpress dress print which she created.

Cawley is an artist who works with paper, textiles, collected objects, and re-purposed materials. Her work explores ideas of identity, time, and loss, and draws on various traditional skills like embroidery and letterpress printing. She teaches in the Continuing Studies program at the Maine College of Art in Portland, Maine, and is an artist member of Portland's Pickwick Independent Press, a printmaking collective. A workshop with Crystal Cawley will be held Friday, June 7. Contact the gallery for details.

The Gallery at Penn College receives state arts funding support through a grant from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, a state agency funded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. Through this Pennsylvania Partners in the Arts grant, The Gallery invited regional 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students, through their school’s art educator, to read Estes’ book and create 7 x 5” works to add to the exhibit. Over 1,300 student creations will be included in the exhibit.

In June, Studio 570 will present a new theatrical adaptation of Estes’ book The Hundred Dresses. Studio 570 is a Williamsport-based theater company that uses the concept of creating theater in ‘found spaces’ (often public spaces) in order to achieve their mission of engaging the public and building the local arts community. Visit www.studio570theater.com for ticket information.

Meet the Artist Reception: Thursday, June 6, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. with Gallery Talk at 5:30 p.m.

Summer Hours: Sunday: 1 – 4 p.m. Tuesday – Thursday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Friday: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Closed July 3 – 7