FARMINGTON -- Tim Berry was more than happy to stop traffic on Wednesday at the start of his combination of art, theater and benefit marathon.

The University of Maine at Farmington senior donned a three-foot-high wig and hunter- orange gown and began his 24-hour quest to teeter-totter for art, food and money.

The art major from Orono said he had to present a class project, and he knew what he wanted to do.

"I wanted to combine theater, donations for Operation Keep ME Warm and the Fairbanks Food Closet and I wanted to wear what Marie Antoinette might have worn when she announced 'Let them eat cake' in the late 1700s," he said.

Berry said he's received nearly $600 in pledges for United Way's Operation Keep ME Warm. Supporters have brought canned goods to fill a box for the food pantry, and his only concern, he said, was staying warm throughout Wednesday night.

"A few friends will be camping out, and I'll have plenty of energy bars and water and will take short breaks," he said.

He said he hoped the audience would appreciate the irony of choosing to dress as the queen of France, who was noted for her lavish lifestyle while citizens were starving.

"The dress is really over the top," Berry said.

He had hoped to jump on a trampoline for 24 hours, but UMF's insurance concerns forced him to switch to the teeter-totter option.

"We'll have a pledge sheet and a donations jar in front of the Mantor Library until Thursday afternoon," he said "I know college students can't donate as much as they'd like to, but a few dozen pledges at 10 cents an hour can really add up."

Berry will continue to accept pledges at timothy.berry@ maine.edu.

For more information on Operation Keep ME Warm efforts in Franklin County, visit www.uwtva.org or call director Lisa Laflin at 778-5048.