One of Ours Made It to Washington!
The 2009 White House Eggs are on display at the Glendale Main Library. The beautiful case was designed by our current winner’s (Karen Friend’s) husband, and it’s a true masterpiece — just like Karen’s egg.
After their library stop, it’s on to the the Buckeye Museum, and then Cave Creek Musuem will display the eggs. Then, the eggs will take to the road and visit other libraries throughout the state for a two-month run.
We want to send a special thank you to all of the artists that allowed us to retain their entries for the traveling display.
The White House State Egg program was added to the White House Easter Festivities by Hillary Clinton, and Laura Bush continued the tradition. Current First Lady Michelle Obama will be presented an egg from each of the 50 states and meet the artists that can attend the White House presentation.
We find it fitting that the Arizona egg exhibit hatched in Glendale, where Hickman’s family Farms began 65 years ago! The next stop for the eggs will be Buckeye’s museum, as Buckeye is the new home for Hickman’s Family Farms.
The missing egg in the exhibit is the winning Arizona egg. An “eggs-act” replica of Karen Friend’s creation will complete the display after Michelle Obama receives the original. The photo included here is the actual winning entry.
The winning egg for 2009 was created by Cave Creek artist, Karen S. Friend. She was also the winner for 2008, and her photos with Laura Bush can be viewed at hickmanseggs.com.
The other winning artists are:
Mary Ellen Le Gendre of Glendale
Darlene Pierman of Payson
Fran Hunold of Carefree
Besty Coon of Paradise Valley
Marsha Rossell of Phoenix (Marsha designed the Nation’s Egg in 2008, and was Arizona’s winner in 2007)
Judy Welch of Avondale
The contest is hosted the first Wednesday of each year in the lobby of Banner Estrella Medical Center. The event is free to the public, and includes breakfast. The artists are in attendance and demonstrate their techniques and display other creations. Judges for the event are selected by Banner Estrella and Hickman’s, who determine the entry that would best represent Arizona to visitors of the White House Visitors Center, and to the nation’s First Lady.
A contribution is made by Hickman’s Family Farms to the Banner Estrella Wee Care Program, which provides newly hatched Arizonans with clothing and blankets.
