Elgin is going to be part of a nationally known folk artist’s project honoring America’s 250th birthday.
Eric Dowdle is planning a tour called “Land That I Love” in which he’ll visit different cities to create artwork that will be used for the country’s milestone anniversary in 2026.
One of those towns will be Elgin. The Elgin City Council voted 7-2 last week to spend $120,000 for the artwork, which will be turned into a puzzle available for purchase. A final contract vote will be taken in May.
Dowdle’s company contacted the city to propose that it be part of the project, said Amanda Harris, director of cultural arts and special events.
“We met with his representatives via Zoom. They walked us through their program and what it looks like,” Harris said. “We were super impressed by the way Eric approaches art and community.”
Dowdle’s work focuses on folk art, history and community. He visits the town and spends time with its residents to really learn about a place, she said.
“He’s not just going to go online and Google it. He has a real immersion approach,” she said. “We know Elgin and how Elgin feels about its history and the changes it has had here. We felt this was a great way to celebrate our history. It seemed authentic.”
Elgin will commission Dowdle to create the piece, which will be a standalone project included in the national exhibit, Harris said. It will also be made into a 500- to 1,000-piece puzzle, which will be available for purchase, she said.
The city’s cost is $120,000, which includes the artist’s fee, puzzle fabrication and an interactive puzzle wall. Revenue from puzzle sales and community partners or sponsors could recoup between 30% to 40% of the total expense, Harris said.
The interactive puzzle wall, measuring 8 feet by 10 feet, will be on display following an unveiling event, she said.
Dowdle has more than 20 years of experience over which he has produced more than 400 original works of art. He has sold more than 30 million puzzles worldwide, according to his website.
He and his work have been featured on the Discovery Network and on “The Piece Maker” television show, which streams on HBO Max. He partnered with Disney in 2019 to create 14 original folk art pieces depicting Disney scenes.
Elgin is the first city to agree to be part of the tour, which Harris said she thinks will help showcase the community’s cultural richness and artistic vibrancy.
Councilwoman Carol Rauschenberger was not enthusiastic about the idea and voted against it.
“He does this sort of interesting folk art, but I feel like it’s not as artistic as it is commercial,” she said. “For example, one of his famous paintings is the inside of a Costco because Costco sells his artwork puzzles.”
Councilwoman Tish Powell also voted no.
“If I’m going to spend this much money, I don’t want it to be on a puzzle. I don’t even know how many people actually do puzzles nowadays,” Powell said. “I would rather see us invest in more tangible artwork in our downtown and in some of the areas we’ve identified. I think that would be a better use of the funding.”
But Councilman Corey Dixon, whose family does do puzzles, sees it as a piece of memorabilia.
“I think it gains value over time,” he said, adding that the city would make some of the cost back.
Gloria Casas is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.
