UConn-Stamford Students Aim To Break Dice Mosaic World Record

STAMFORD, CT — A group of students at UConn-Stamford have embarked on a project to break the Guinness World Record for largest dice mosaic art piece, but the initiative goes far beyond the record books; they hope to create a lasting legacy by bringing the community together for the project and to inspire future students at the regional campus to achieve something great.

Started by members of the Husky Art Pack, UConn-Stamford's only art club, the project, aptly named "Art of the Roll," aims to create a 30-square-meter dice mosaic made up of 200,000 dice. The project is a collaboration with Stamford artist Johnny Face Off, who specializes in dice art through Design With Dice.

Darien High School alumna, Stamford-UConn sophomore and project co-leader Daniela Salas helped start the Husky Art Pack after she came to the school in the fall of 2023. The club now has around 100 members.

"I've always been an artist ever since I was a kid. I was always into drawing, watching cartoons, anything creative-related I was always nose deep into it," Salas told Patch. "In high school, I was able to really tap into that interest and I was able to really engage with myself creatively not only through classes but the extracurriculars and the connections I made there. It was enriching because I was able to apply that experience into my university career, which is what translated into Husky Art Pack."

Another student, Jethro Asinas, works at the Stamford Art Association where he met Johnny Face Off, and the idea for the project was born. Other student leaders on the project include Husky Art Pack co-president/founder and project co-leader Vivian Mendoza; Shania Chacon, the lead graphic designer; and Dorian Robinson, who is filming a documentary on the initiative.

The project is the first-ever UConn-Stamford student initiative to participate in the UConn Foundation's Ignite crowdfunding campaign.

With a project budget of $30,000, the students have raised $895 out of a $15,000 goal as part of the campaign as of Monday afternoon; the campaign runs through March 2. Overall, the students have raised over $10,000 from internal funding, according to Salas, and there are sponsorship opportunities for the project that the public can participate in.

Money will go toward purchasing the dice for the mosaic, authenticating the record through Guinness World Records using an official record kit, and framing the piece so it can be properly displayed. Funds will also support future art programming and Husky Art Club activities.

The students will host a competition to design the dice mosaic in the coming months. The art piece will be based around a theme while incorporating a mission and values, as well as incorporating the different parties who are working on the project, Salas said.

A final unveiling event will take place, likely at the beginning of this September.

Aside from hopefully breaking the Guinness World Record, the students want to send a message about the community coming together to complete a project from its inception to the final unveiling.

"What we really want to leave is a lasting legacy. The reason we made this whole project in the first place was because we wanted to leave a resounding message with the students here — that you're able to complete something and you're capable of doing something bigger than you might think," Salas said. "Especially coming from a regional campus here at UConn-Stamford, some people think that things are unattainable or inaccessible... Even in a challenging environment, you're able to do something huge like this that will leave a lasting impact."

UConn-Stamford professor Matthew Worwood serves as an adviser to several students who have taken on the initiative as an independent study.

Worwood said he was impressed when the students came to him with the idea a few months ago.

"I think it's brilliant," Worwood said. "This group is really committed to creating something special, and hopefully, I think they wanted to change the culture — that if you want to do something fun, something engaging, something that inspires, something that brings people together, you don't necessarily have to have it facilitated by somebody else. You can be the one who leads that charge. I think they're hoping, through this project, this can inspire similar projects in the future."

Worwood noted the interdisciplinary effort and diverse skill sets among the students that are being brought to Art of the Roll.

"They are problem solvers, they are leaders, and they are emerging professionals who are very comfortable working independently," he said.

As for the unveiling event of the dice mosaic, Worwood said he can't wait to see the finished product.

"I just get really excited when there's an opportunity to showcase student outcomes, especially when we can showcase those student outcomes publicly outside the four walls of the classroom; that makes me extremely excited. I'll be proud of the students," he added. "I've told them whether they break the record or not, they're going to get so much from every moment of this experience."

For more information on Art of the Roll, how to donate or sponsorship opportunities, visit the project website.