Upcycle Inspiration: Egg Shell Egg

For a while I had my mind set on making something useful. I kept struggling to find materials to efficiently replace, enhance, or re-imagine things that I already owned so I decided to settle on making a sculpture of some sort. Again, finding sufficient materials has been a limitation but I eventually decided on making something out of egg shells.

After a few Google Image searches for egg shell sculptures, I found many pictures of intricately carved egg shells that looked way too intimidating to replicate, but I also found a sculpture of a chicken made of egg shells. The artist who made this chicken used clay as a base for the shape of their model while I envisioned a structure that would be more hollow.

     

After a few more searches I ran into Nosinger who created a large sphere made of white egg shells using most of the shell. I liked the idea and the fact that you can see into the piece through the gaps, but I did not like the added challenge of using eggs that were so precisely cracked.

As a result, I decided to look into mosaics made of egg shells. The two that drew my eye were a lamp shade covered in shells and a lamp in the shape of an egg.

     

Ultimately I decided to make a large, hollow egg out of egg shells. My goal is to make it open enough so that you can see into it like Nosinger’s piece. If I am successful in making the shape, I will consider putting lights inside it so that it acts like a lamp. In order to make it I plan on using a balloon, a large piece of thin white cloth, glue, and dreams. If I am successful, I plan on using some fairy lights that a friend gave me, put them in a bottle, and stand the egg up around it so that it becomes illuminated.

Sources:
– https://www.deviantart.com/peregrin71/art/carved-goose-eggshell-20082012-323648477
– https://www.instructables.com/id/Make-an-Eggshell-Sculpture-/
– http://www.spoon-tamago.com/2013/03/31/eggshell-art-by-nosigner/
– https://www.fabulousfurniture.co.uk/black-tile-mini-mosaic-egg-lamp
– http://portfolios.massart.edu/gallery/35353389/Eggshell-Lamp

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3 Comments. Leave new

  • […] Inspiration: https://www.aesdes.org/2020/01/29/upcycle-inspiration-egg-shell-egg/ Progress Report: https://www.aesdes.org/2020/02/05/upcycle-progress-egg-shell-egg/ […]

    Reply
  • Nicole Leon-Molina
    January 31, 2020 4:32 pm

    Thanks! I’m excited to work to make it happen. As of now, the plan is to glue the shells slightly overlapping to each other and to the cloth to help it hold it’s shape and make removing the balloon a lot easier. I don’t necessarily want it to be stronger or durable since the whole goal is to make something that looks like it shouldn’t be holding up but it’s doing it anyways.

    Reply
  • Hi Nicole! This is so cool! I think using a balloon to make the shape is brilliant. Overall, I admire your willingness to take on something that looks very tedious. I am a little confused though, will you glue the eggshells to the cloth or to each other? Also, all these pieces look incredibly delicate. Do you have any ideas for how to make your piece stronger/more durable, or are you going to accept the fact that it will be super fragile?

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