The Urban Egg Project

The urban environment is in desperate need of rejuvenation. Thousands of buildings are left abandoned and are magnets for all sorts of criminal and undesirable activity. Where there once was prosperity now is crime and hardship. When organizations and individuals choose to rehabilitate these rundown buildings an entire neighborhood can be converted into a thriving community.

I am creating a sculpture that recycles materials from the city to symbolize the need for the revitalization of these neighborhoods. I am playing off the brick of the city and the history of urban architecture by constructing a 9 x 6 x 6 foot brick egg. The brick would represent urban brick construction and the egg form would symbolize the recycling or rebirth of urban environments. My Urban Egg Project would look as if the life growing within will one day hatch and provide the energy that will rejuvenate the city.

The surface of the bricks will be ground down with a diamond wheel grinder. This will make the bricks smooth and curved to look like a living brick egg. The egg will be placed in the lobby of the Gershman Hall building on Broad Street in Philadelphia. The tight space of the lobby appears to be an incubator protecting the egg and the spirit of rehabilitation growing within the brick shell. The space will also make the egg look as if it is growing larger and taking over the space that is usually used for people as they enter and exit the building. Now this egg is taking over the space as it continues to grow.

Check out Mary Ellen from America's Got Talent. She went to my church when I was little.