All the pieces of Elgin came together Saturday as a new public art piece was unveiled in DuPage Court in downtown Elgin.
A large painting featuring an original cityscape of Elgin created by Eric Dowdle, a nationally renowned folk artist, as well as an outdoor mural and replica puzzles of the same image were revealed with the help of Elgin Mayor David Kaptain.
The original artwork, created as part of Dowdle’s national “Land That I Love” tour commemorating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, features Elgin landmarks, schools, businesses, traditions and cultural touchstones.
A replica of the artwork is being made into a wall mural and has been reproduced as 500- and 1,000-piece boxed puzzles that were sold Saturday and and will be available for purchase locally from area businesses before being sold online.
Elgin marketing specialist Heather Moore said 500-piece puzzles will cost $24.95 and 1,000-piece puzzles $27.99.
Dowdle is visiting towns across the country for which he’s created works that are made into puzzles available for purchase. Elgin was the first community in Illinois to participate in the Declaration of Independence project.
Speaking at the Saturday unveiling, Dowdle emphasized the importance of community and teamwork, using the analogy of a 60,000-piece puzzle to illustrate how each individual contributes to the whole.
“It takes all of us,” Dowdle said. “We’re all different. We all fit in different places. And believe it or not, if you’re not here, it makes a difference.”
Attendees viewed the original artwork alongside an 8-foot-by-10-foot partially completed puzzle wall.
Dowdle said he visited Elgin on his own multiple times throughout the creative process, exploring the community and researching its history firsthand before creating the piece.
“I applaud your mayor and everybody. This is a city that truly knows how to make everybody feel welcome,” he said.
The celebration also marked the installation of The Heart of Elgin, a series of artist-designed maintenance hole covers created by local artist Alisa Duda. The permanent public art installation celebrates the architecture, history and character of downtown Elgin, using a commonly overlooked item as the canvas.
Courier-News freelance reporter Mike Danahey contributed to this report.
