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Our Lady’s Bower, Athlone TY students Ellen Kearney and Katie Shortall, under the guidance of art teacher Ms Oonagh Kelly, created their masterpiece using 3,500 egg cartons.
Each carton was divided, punched and reconnected using cotton strand so as to give the dress flow and flexibility.
An additional 1,500 cartons were reworked into elegant roses to edge the neckline and back of the creation, a further 200 cartons were moulded around chicken wire to form the head piece.
Katie, a keen horse woman, chose to use egg cartons from free range and sustainable egg producers only.
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Ellen, from a farming background also, wanted their entry to highlight the significance of animal health and welfare in the poultry industry.
Katie and Ellen visited Free Range Egg Farms in the north-west and experienced first-hand the advantage of pullets and hens in their natural environment as opposed to hatcheries where eggs are hatched under artificial conditions.
Like many great creations, it happened by accident: the original design fell to the floor, Ellen picked it up at an awkward angle and Katie decided the design was hatched.
The girls were also inspired by Dutch artist, Enno de Kroon, who invented eggcubism, which is the art of painting egg trays.
The egg cartons are very fragile so Katie and Ellen are in a constant state of repair. What an egg-cellent idea!
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