Scrap metal sculptures by John Lopez

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Cowboy on a Horse. Life-sized scrap metal sculpture by South Dakotan sculptor John Lopez

Scrap metal sculptures by John Lopez, South Dakotan sculptor are life-sized bison, a horse plowing a field, or a Texas Longhorn, a bear, all made with a uniquely Western American twist. In his hands, old discarded farm equipment is recycled into sculptures of iconic creatures from the American West. “My favorite part about these pieces is the texture,” explains Lopez. This unusual detour started about three years ago, when his beloved aunt died in a car accident. Lopez moved to his widowed Uncle Geno Hunt’s ranch to build a family cemetery. Uncle Geno opened his welding shop to Lopez, who completed a fence around the cemetery, then ran out of material. After some experimentation, he finished a gate into the cemetery, and then made a small angel peering over the top of the gate. The project gave him much personal satisfaction, and everyone who saw it was amazed at the result. A new career path was born in that cemetery.

Bear. Scrap metal sculptures by John Lopez

Bear. Life-sized scrap metal sculpture by South Dakotan sculptor John Lopez

“I just start grabbin’ stuff from the pile and welding it, in and if you weld enough of the same thing on over and over it creates this really cool texture that I’ve never seen in these kinds of pieces before. And I think that’s what draws people in.”