The University will be closed December 19, 2024 to January 5, 2025. If you need assistance during that time, please call 1-855-OWU-1842 and leave a detailed voicemail along with your contact information. One of our colleagues will respond to your call as soon as possible.
If you would like to make a 2024 gift, please make your gift before midnight on December 31.
Name: Caroline Parker ’23
Hometown: Louisville, Kentucky
Majors: Psychology and Studio Art
OWU Connection Experience: Designed, created, and modeled a wearable art dress for the Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft (KMAC) Couture Show
For four months, Parker worked in OWU’s ceramics studio to create a one-of-a-kind dress to wear on the runway during the KMAC’s latest couture fundraiser.
According to The (Louisville) Courier-Journal: The spring 2022 “KMAC Couture X” show featured “emerging and established artists, costumers, designers, and milliners from across the United States in an extraordinary presentation of original couture pieces of wearable art and conceptual fashion designs.” The annual show dates back to 2013 and benefits the museum’s exhibitions, education, and outreach programs.
“I have been doing art for as long as I can remember. I got into creating wearable art specifically during my sophomore year of high school. ... I hope one day I can also be a mentor for younger new artists participating in KMAC Couture.”
“The dress’s name is ‘Argillaceous Coverings.’ It’s made entirely of ceramic clay and jump rings. I really just wanted to make a dress out of something that didn’t seem possible.
“Ceramic clay is breakable, heavy, and stiff. Fabric, which most clothes are made out of, is durable, light, and flexible – so basically the opposite of ceramic.
“I wanted to do something unbelievable, something that didn’t fully make sense, something challenging. I made it over four months. The hardest part was definitely making all 300 little ceramic circles.”
“OWU helped me a lot! The Career Connection office gave me a grant that covered expenses. I got a lot of assistance and support from the chair of the Fine Arts Department, professor Kristina Bogdanov. She gave me tips, helped with finishing the project, and overall a lot of support. The dress was also entirely created in OWU’s ceramic studio.
“My artist support was Emmanuella Akomeah-Sirleaf ’22. ... She went to the show with me in Louisville and basically helped me with everything like transporting the dress, getting in and out of the dress, pictures, and overall just assisting with everything the day of the show.”
“OWU has helped me in so many ways. Specifically, I always knew I loved art but I didn’t know what art mediums would be my passion. OWU helped me find my specific calling in art by providing me with the opportunity to use all different mediums.
“At OWU, I’ve done wheel throwing, iron pouring, live figure drawing, and so much more. I have found my calling is in ceramics and sculpture.”
“I chose to go to OWU because I wanted to go to a small liberal arts college. I also loved the town of Delaware. I like that it was possible for me to major in two different subjects since I had two passions, art and psychology.
“I would like to find ways to help people through art. Eventually, I would like to go to grad school for art therapy.”