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Rain barrels do more than just hold water

Posted July 30, 2009 11:00 pm

A woman walks through the 45 painted rain barrels on display at the Gail Borden Public Library in Elgin Tuesday. The public voted on their favorites after the barrels spent the summer in the community. John Starks | Staff Photographer

Looking for a way to conserve water, contribute to your community and add artistic flair to your yard?

Then head to FoxFireFest in downtown Elgin this weekend and place a bid on one or more of the 45 "Rain Barrels on Parade."

The painted barrels will be auctioned off at this weekend's FoxFireFest Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 1 and 2 at the Art and Soul on the Fox art show. Most of the rain barrels, 29 of them, will be auctioned off in a silent auction beginning at 11 a.m. Saturday and ending at 1 p.m. Sunday. Bids will begin at $75.

The top 15 "Community's Favorites" will be auctioned off via live auction by Prigge Auctioneers at 1 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 2. Again, the bids will begin at $75. Proceeds from the auctions will go toward Elgin neighborhood sustainability projects.

"Rain Barrels on Parade" was a joint effort to bring attention to an easy way of saving water, to downtown Elgin attractions and the city's neighborhoods.

The 45 barrels were placed at strategic locations around Elgin until July 15, when they came back to the Gail Borden Public Library.

The 75-gallon plastic barrels help decrease the use of tap water, reduce stress of rainwater runoff on creeks and rivers and stop pesticides and fertilizers from entering rivers and streams.

A rain barrel with tiles as well as paint by artist Michael Rudis, was donated and sponsored by The Awakenings Project. It is one of 45 barrels that will auctioned this weekend at FoxFireFest. John Starks | Staff Photographer

Jeff Turner, left, Robert Bedard and Mike McGrath, right, lift the rain barrels painted for their charity. John Starks | Staff Photographer

A rain barrel painted by Ryan White, donated and sponsored by Wilderness painters, shows a painter in the wilderness, and is on display at the Gail Borden Public Library in Elgin Tuesday. John Starks | Staff Photographer

Some of the painted rain barrels on display at the Gail Borden Public Library in Elgin are reflections of the community. This one, by artist Karen Bach, is modeled after the Gifford Park neighborhood. John Starks | Staff Photographer

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