Elgin sculpture will marry kids, recycling and toys

Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox won't be coming to Elgin's FoxFireFest in early August.

But organizers hope to start a new tradition through a community sculpture inspired by the new "Transformers" movie theme while incorporating a healthy dose of environmentalism.

Making the TrashFormer sculpture will take two days and plenty of input from kids - both in creativity and donations of their old and broken toys that otherwise would end up in a landfill.

Elgin leaders want people to drop off their broken toys at several locations before the sculpture takes shape from noon to 4 p.m. Aug. 1 and Aug. 2 at Festival Park, 136 S. Grove Ave.

Joseph Gagnepain, a Geneva artist famous for his sculptures made of bicycle parts, will lead in the creation of the TrashFormer, in which children will help affix old toys onto a 8- to 9-foot-tall skeleton of a robot.

"It's a community sculpture that everyone can be a part of," said Gagnepain, 32, who was growing up when the first Transformers toys came out. "Kids can see their work in a public art setting. It's going to be fun and childlike and hopefully inspiring people's imaginations."

Gagnepain said he will construct a shell - probably in the shape of a robot in some type of action pose.

Then he will work with kids to attach old toys to it via screws or a heavy-duty construction adhesive such as Liquid Nails.

The final outcome depends on the creative process those two days, along with the type of broken toys donated.

From now through July 31, you can drop off items at the following Elgin locations: city hall, 150 Dexter Court; the Centre, 100 Symphony Way; the Gail Borden Library, 270 N. Grove Ave.; and Fire Station 7, 3270 Longcommon Parkway.

The final piece will be housed at the Centre and other locations before eventually being auctioned off.

Judi Brownfield, owner of Books At Sunset who is in charge of planning children's activities for FoxFireFest, said she suggested the idea to help interest kids - especially boys - in the whole "reduce, reuse, recycle" theme for the TrashFormer.

"With the movie coming out this summer and coming up with concepts with this project, it's the perfect name, don't you think?" she said.

Brownfield said organizers plan to create a new sculpture next year for FoxFireFest, a two-day extravaganza of music, food and activities in downtown Elgin.

For details, visit cityofelgin.org or downtownelgin.com.