Northport man creates ‘first’ egg White House displays Easter collection

NORTHPORT – For bird carver and wildlife artist Erwin Flewelling, it’s been quite an honor to create the first egg for the first family.

Actually, there are 50 first eggs, each one depicting scenes representative of one of the American states. The decorative eggs were put on display at the White House on Monday and will remain until after Easter.

Flewelling’s egg is graced with an outline of Maine, a chickadee, pine cone and tassel, in homage to the state bird, tree and flower. Applying paint to the egg was hardly a chore, Flewelling noted, what vexed him was getting the insides out.

“I just went to the store and got some regular eggs,” Flewelling said. “The hard part was vacating the innards. I went through quite a few before I figured out how to do it.”

No, he didn’t suck the egg yoke and white through a straw. Flewelling’s method was to use a pin to prick holes in each end and hold the egg under warm running water. Eventually the water replaced the egg and all that was left was a hollow shell.

The artistic eggs are part of the annual promotion of the American Egg Board.

No, the eggs will not be part of the annual White House Easter egg hunt. Instead, they will be crated and placed in storage until they are moved to their future home, the George W. Bush presidential library.

Lin Jackowski, the American Egg Board employee in charge of the White House project, selected Flewelling, 65, to decorate the Maine egg after seeing his colorful bird carvings at an art show in Virginia last year. Flewelling said he jumped at the chance when Jackowski called to offer him the commission.

“I was kind of surprised because I really was not aware of this program,” Flewelling said with a laugh. “I said, well sure, I’ll be glad to give it a try.”

Flewelling said he experimented a bit before settling down to paint the egg. He did not try egg tempera, opting instead for acrylic paints. The egg was then coated with a clear acrylic to protect the paintings.

Flewelling is a retired U.S. customs officer, having worked 11 years in Bridgewater and 15 years as port director in Van Buren. He retired to Northport a decade ago. He has been carving birds and creating flat art for many years and currently displays some of his work at Duck Trap Decoys in Lincolnville.

He is also the author of several books about carving and conducts workshops for bird carvers.

Flewelling was invited to be part of the White House Egg Artists Tour but decided against attending the ceremony. His 21-year-old granddaughter, Michelle Eldridge, who attends college in Washington, represented him at Monday’s artists’ reception at the White House.

Eldridge even got to meet first lady Laura Bush.

“I’ve been to Washington for work conferences over the years, Flewelling said, “and have been on the outside of the White House many times. But I’ve never been on the inside.

“I just didn’t feel like going down. My granddaughter went and really enjoyed herself.”