Walking on Eggshells in the Palmer Gallery

As the second half of a two-part, Spring 2007 sculpture class project, Lexi Cote ’09 has filled the Palmer Gallery with 1,200 dozen carefully-scrubbed eggshells. The exhibit’s first incarnation consisted of a giant porcelain eggshell and served as the her final project. Cote, a philosophy major, works extensively on visual arts projects. She initially planned to declare a major in art, but said that for two years, “I couldn’t get into the intro art class.”

Now devoted to her found love of philosophy, she connects the two disciplines in her work. “I draw a lot of things in art from philosophy, and a lot of things in philosophy from art,” she said.

The exhibit’s initial version required 100 dozen eggs. Professor of Art Harry Roseman helped Cote with the project’s logistics. “Harry Roseman called Adams and talked them into selling me [the eggs] wholesale,” said Cote. The exhibit was delayed, and Cote eventually enlisted local restaurants to supply the eggs. Over the summer, Cote prepared the shells for the final show by rinsing them twice in her dog’s kiddie pool, then cleaned each by hand.

Regarding the exhibit’s meaning, Cote said, “I want people to take it as it is. It means something different for everyone.” Overall, public response has been overwhelmingly positive, and Cote noted, “Most people just tell me they like it [and ask] where’d I get all that stuff.”
—Marcella Veneziale, Spread Editor