AUBURN – As an independent artist raising money in his own way, Tim Berry wants to make people think – at least for five seconds.

Riding on the success of his performance-art fundraiser in November, when he attempted to ride a seesaw for 24 hours dressed as Marie Antoinette, Berry decided to continue his senior art project at the University of Maine at Farmington.

This time he’s walking in a fluorescent-pink dress through backyards and communities to involve more people than the ones who saw his seesaw performance on the UMF campus, he said Friday when he arrived in Turner around noon.

Berry started the 312-mile adventure Thursday from the University of Southern Maine in Gorham. He plans to walk to Farmington and then on to Orono before ending at the University of Maine at Presque Isle about two weeks from Friday.

During his November performance, Berry raised $1,500 for Keep ME Warm and collected enough food for a local pantry to fill two 40-gallon tubs. This time his efforts are focused on four United Way programs covering the areas where he’s walking.

On his second day of walking Friday, Berry admitted to being a little tired, but his stint was going pretty well so far.

“It’s been really positive along the way. People are stopping to talk, take photos on their cell phones, bring me water; honking their horns and waving and one elderly lady invited me into her home for granola bars,” he said.

His performance-art project is a parody on the levels of tolerance, he said.

“If you’re a person who wouldn’t accept someone in drag, but you see them trying to raise money for something good, would your intolerance stop you from giving?” Berry asked.

“I want people to think for five seconds: Is my tolerance level high enough to live and let live and donate or would I hold on to those prejudices?”

November’s performance was on a college campus with people who think similarly, Berry said. He hopes to further push social and intellectual limits during the walk.

Berry created his bright-pink gown, which breaks down in layers and has a waterproof hoop skirt that makes it “extremely hard” to walk. He enlisted friends to drive slightly ahead of him and document his interactions on film.

“My primary goal is to make (it to) Orono, if my body lasts,” said Berry, an Orono native.

Staff photographer Amber Waterman contributed to this report.