Link to DEM Home Page Link to State of RI web site RIDEM graphical banner, showing land and water scene
Navigation button, HomeNavigation button, ProgramsNavigation button, TopicsNavigation button, MapsNavigation button, PublicationsNavigation button, NewsNavigation button, EventsNavigation button, SearchNavigation button, HelpNavigation button, Contact
Home > News > News Item


 
News Advisory
RI Department of Environmental Management
235 Promenade Street, Providence, RI 02908
(401) 222-2771 TDD/(401) 222-4462
FOR AP AND METRO NEWS DAYBOOKS:
Date: Wednesday, December 5

Time:

 10 a.m.
Location: State House State Room
Event: Mrs. Carcieri will be presented with a replica of Rhode Island's White House Easter Egg by the artist, Kimberly Mayer-Oliva

For Release:

 December 4, 2007
Contact: Gail Mastrati 222-4700 ext. 2402
Stephanie Powell 222-4700 ext. 4418

DECORATED RHODE ISLAND EGG TO BE DISPLAYED AT WHITE HOUSE
Replica to Be Presented to Mrs. Carcieri at State House Ceremony on Wednesday, December 5

PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management announced today that an egg, decorated by Kimberly Mayer-Oliva of Warwick, will represent Rhode Island at the White House this upcoming Easter for the annual display of decorated eggs from each state. Mayer-Oliva, who will have the opportunity to meet with First Lady Laura Bush, will present a duplicate decorated egg Wednesday, December 5, to Mrs. Carcieri at a 10 a.m. state house ceremony in the state room, attended by representatives from the Roger Williams Park and Zoo.

Mayer-Oliva, who says she likes to execute themes that are important, chose to depict the zoo's butterfly conservation project, a program designed to help in the recovery of endangered butterfly species in North America. "I thought it was a perfect theme," Mayer-Oliva said. "Even small endangered species are an important part of our ecosystem. It's a wonderful program."

For each display, Mayer-Oliva has transformed a Grade A large brown chicken egg, donated by Little Rhody Egg Farms in Foster, into a miniature treasure. She hand-carved the eggs, embellishing them with one-of-a-kind custom-designed etchings and decals. The eggs are filled with sparkling Swarovki crystals, gold findings, dried flowers, glitter, and architectural landscape material used for miniatures. Filigreed and jeweled butterfly wings adorn the outside, while the interiors of the eggs are three-dimensional colorful butterfly gardens with some of their favorite flowers.

This is the second time that Mayer-Oliva, an artist, ornament, and product designer by trade, has decorated an egg for the yearly White House display. The first occasion was in 2005.

This year's White House egg will be shipped to Chicago to be reviewed by the American Egg Board. From there, the Rhode Island egg and 50 others, representing all the states and the District of Columbia, will be sent to Washington, DC for the annual Easter display in the entrance hall of the White House's East Wing.

DEM's Division of Agriculture and Resource Marketing sponsors the yearly egg-decorating event in Rhode Island for the White House display.

-30-
For General Information 222-6800 • After Hours Emergencies 222-3070 • Disclaimer