The next edition of the Elgin Alive Series will be on Tuesday, March 15th from 6:30 until 8:30 at the Gail Borden Public Library. come out and hear about how your local government works.

Adirondacks-Thrones of Summer 2011 is an exciting, community-wide, outdoor, public art
exhibition directed by the Elgin Community Network in partnership with the Gail Borden Public
Library, City of Elgin, Elgin Climate Change Organization, Elgin Chamber of Commerce,
Downtown Neighborhood Association and Elgin’s businesses, corporations, restaurants, public
agencies, schools, churches, community groups and not-for-profits. This is our third year
doing this fantastic event! It’s completely volunteer driven and free to the public!
We’ll once again be asking the community to enthusiastically embrace the imaginative
Thrones just as they did the Rain Barrels, Bicycles On Parade, and Dinos. We’re asking you
to be a part of this extraordinary project and create a fanciful work of art using a simple, oversized
adirondack chair as the canvas. (Yes, we can even help with the art part!) This is freedom
of expression at it’s best!
Creative projects like this bring thousands to Elgin throughout the summer. They allow the
community to see parts of Elgin they may have never visited before, or it gives them a chance
to rediscover Elgin and see it in a new light. Whatever the reason… thousands come out, walk
(in this case, hopefully sit a little), visit, and patronize the surrounding area while having a
great time!
These artful entertainment pieces will be displayed throughout the community during June
and be a part of Gail Borden’s Midsummer Knight’s Read, in the DNA’s 4th of July Parade,
then in July showcased & voted on at the library which averages 3000 visitors a day, and
auctioned off at Elgin’s largest art festival, Art & Soul on the Fox/Passeggiata on July 31st.
We feel there is no better way for you to advertise your identity. The exposure is immense and
ongoing from June to August at less than $3 a day. The nitty-gritty is on the following pages.
The deadline to participate is March, with a kick-off in April.
We invite you to take a cultural detour and participate. How can you say anything but
yes….it’s civic minded, supports community neighborhood projects, and is filled with so much
heart & soul that it gives everyone a reason to smile. And frankly, we can’t do it without you!

The Project Description

Participants are asked to purchase their oversized adirondack s directly from Elgin
Community Network (ECN). Artists are encouraged to create imaginative and
unique works of art appropriate for outdoor display. Branding of participant/
exhibitors names/programs is allowed. All chairs will be picked up by participants
on April 23rd, and completed by June 1st. They will then be displayed throughout
Elgin as part of a passport contest & the library’s Midsummer Knight’s Read during
June and July, and several will participate in the 4th of July Parade. In mid-July
they will be brought to the library to be voted on-winning artists will receive cash
prizes for their creations. On July 30th they’ll be displayed, and on July 31st they’ll
be auctioned off, at Elgin’s largest art festival, Art & Soul on the Fox/Passeggiata.
Auction proceeds will be used to benefit ECN’s sustainable neighborhood projects.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do I start? Complete & send in the attached form by March 15th, 2011.

Who can participate? Any school, business, corporation, restaurant, public
agency, not for profit, community group, or church.

What do you mean by “create a work of art”? Use your imagination and paint,
sculpt or modify your chair to create your own unique design. We can also provide
you with many ideas!

Where do we find an artist? Ask around and you will probably find a “closet” artist.
Get a group to do it together – this is a great team building exercise. Ask us,
or contact Acme Design (Elgin), 37 North Union, 847-841-7400 -ask for Elizabeth.

When does the Adirondack need to be finished by? May 31st. However, you
must submit a digital photo of the work in progress by May 15th.

What if I don’t have a digital camera to send you a picture?

Contact Sigi Psimenos, ECN Coordinator, at sigiusa@yahoo.com, or 312-953-8216

Where do I take it when it’s finished? We will work with you on the appropriate
location. However, this year preference will be given to participants to showcase attheir own locations, so it behooves restaurants and businesses to enter their own.

How much does it cost? Mail your check payable to ECN before March 15, 2011,
for $180, which covers the cost of the chair , delivery and helps defray the costs of
marketing the event.

Prizes for Community Favorites from Votes Cast

1st Place, ribbon and $100 cash prize; 2nd Place, ribbon and $50 cash prize; 3rd
Place, ribbon and $20 cash prize

Attached entry form application must be submitted by March 15th, 2011.

Contest Rules & Entry Form Application
Return Completed Form Now (Deadline is March 15th, 2011)
Adirondacks-Thrones of Summer 2011 (Thrones) is a public outdoor art exhibition of
creative and unique works of art using oversized adirondack chairs as a canvas. The intent
of this community-wide project, held in conjunction with Gail Borden’s Midsummer Knight’s
Read, the 4th of July Parade, and Art & Soul on the fox/Passeggiata is to showcase our diverse
participants identities (that’s you), making public art exciting, and enhancing our urban
landscape while having an amazing time!
.. Exhibitors will assemble and create a work of art appropriate for outdoor display . These works of
art will be displayed throughout Elgin from June thru July 31st, and will be auctioned off at the Art
& Soul on the fox/Passeggiata with proceeds to benefit Elgin Community Network’s sustainable
neighborhood projects.
.. Branding is allowed. We will provide signage for each Throne.
.. Exhibitor will submit a digital photo of said work of art by May 30th to sigiusa@yahoo.com.
Submission of the photograph shall constitute permission for the photograph and work of art to be
included on locator maps, passports, the sponsor websites or in any other materials as determined
by Elgin Community Network.
.. Exhibitor agrees that all judging/voting determinations shall be final.
.. Exhibitors are responsible for making sure their Thrones are delivered to the display locations.
.. Exhibitors shall indemnify and save the sponsors safe and harmless from any claims made by any
person, firm or corporation against the aforementioned for injury to property or person arising
directly or indirectly out of any activity or pursuit by exhibitor, which said obligation of indemnity
shall include the payment by exhibitor to any and all of the aforementioned of any and all attorneys’
fees, costs of defense and judgments rendered, if any, in favor of such person, firm or corporation.
COMPLETE AND RETURN BEFORE March 15, 2011
ExhibitorName_______________________________________________________________
Mailing Address______________________________________________________________
Phone ______________________________________________________________________
Contact Person_______________________________________________________________
Email Address________________________________________________________________
Artist Name__________________________________________________________________ <a

Join us at the library from 6:30 – 8:30 next Tuesday, 1/18/11.

After the play, join ECCO as we recycle old holiday cards. Children will have the option to recycle old holiday cards into new cards, postcards or ornaments. Plus, free raffle with prizes and free popcorn!

Found Treasure-The 3 R’s Rule! Come see and learn about the importance of recycling as children of Fox River Country Day School’s Green Troupe perform a play on the negative impact of littering, plastic grocery bags, what we can do to stop the over use of water bottles and benefits of shopping at thrift stores.

After the play, join ECCO as we recycle old holiday cards. Children will have the option to recycle old holiday cards into new cards, postcards or ornaments. Plus, free raffle with prizes and free popcorn!

Co-Sponsored by ECN, ECCO,Fox River Country Day School and Gail Borden Public Library.

It’s happening at the lower level of the Hemmens Cultural Center.