First Lady Laura Bush greets mosaic artist Sherri Lindsay at the March 18 opening of the 2005 White House State Easter Egg Display. Lindsay created a mosaic egg representing the State of Missouri. Eggs from each state as well as the District of Columbia will be on display through April 4, 2005 at the White House Visitor's Center. (Photo by Scott Henson)
Sherri Lindsay, a graphic artist from Pittsburg, KS, was chosen to decorate an Easter egg to represent Missouri in the 2005 State Easter Egg Display at the White House in Washington, D.C.
The "Egg Lady of Missouri," as Jo Manhart of the Missouri Egg Council is known, commissioned the work.
“A mosaic egg, it may be a first for the White House Easter eggs! It is truly elegant and amazes me with the delicate strength of the design,” were comments made by Manhart after receiving Lindsay's creation.
Lindsay recently furthered her reputation after being asked to create limited edition mosaic keepsake boxes, which she calls Quiltblox™, for Oscar nominees at the 2004 Academy Awards presentation. She decorates her keepsake boxes with tiny bits of enamel painted eggshell.
"I custom-mix my own enamel colors, paint eggshells, break them into tiny pieces and apply them by hand (averaging 300 pieces per block) to custom-made wooden boxes, which is why I refer to Quiltblox™ as "a fine art collection...built piece by piece," Lindsay explained.
Applying her mosaic technique back to an egg was a challenge to the artist.
"I had to be more careful with an egg than with a wood box," Lindsay said, "but more nerve-wracking was shipping it to Jo." "I was so relieved to know it had arrived safely."
Manhart and Lindsay collaborated on the egg’s design which includes a western bluebird and dogwood branch representing the Missouri state bird and state tree. A tan banner reads “Missouri”. Mahogany-colored bits of eggshell cover the rest of the egg.
A White House tradition since 1994, the State Easter Egg Display includes one egg from each state, as well as the District of Columbia. It will be in the in the White House visitor center through April 4th.
Lindsay's work has appeared in national magazines and in a new book entitled, 400 Wood Boxes: The Fine Art of Containment and Concealment. She is the owner of Quiltblox™, the gallery through which she sells her mosaic craft. Go Back | 
