Western Sculptures Combine Bronze Castings With Scrap Metal

2014 - Volume #38, Issue #4, Page #44

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John Lopez has found a use for cast iron and other scrap farm machinery and equipment. He combines it with bronze castings that he is noted for, turning it all into one-of-a-kind sculptures, often with an agricultural theme.
  “I started out doing sculptures cast in bronze,” says Lopez. “That has transitioned as I began incorporating the bronze into scrap iron.”
  Lopez grew up going to brandings and roundups around Lemmon, S. Dak., where he now lives and works.
  “My job is to flesh out stories that tell our history here,” he says.
  His work is like no other. From a distance, the often larger than life-size sculptures may look like a horse, buffalo or Longhorn steer. Up close, the eye is drawn to the individual pieces of iron that have been used. Black Hawk, a draft horse sculpture created in 2013, includes a single bottom plow that could have been pulled by a real horse.
  “Black Hawk really touched a nerve with a lot of people,” says Lopez. “When you see it’s really made out of tractor and equipment parts, that gives it another dimension.”
  From a distance, the draft horse at work is evident. Up close the mane and hair on the fetlocks become chain and the head, body and legs become an amalgamation of equipment seats, shovels, discs and more. A neck rippling with muscles becomes lengths of roller chain and steel cable blending with a pattern in silver forks.
  Lopez starts by sculpting a figure in clay. He then uses a caliper to take measurements, carefully transferring them into life-size or larger pieces. He never knows what pieces of scrap will go into a sculpture. Sometimes a piece goes off in a different direction. “It means a lot to me when a rancher gives me a piece of equipment he worked with,” he says.
  Lopez does only a couple of pieces a year. When he gets an idea, he researches it and creates it. Only then does he look for a home for it. Black Hawk was purchased by a private collector who put it on public display at a farmer’s market in Kensington, N.H.
  “What fits me best is doing a piece I want to do, pouring myself into it and then taking it out and selling it,” he says.
  His latest piece is a Longhorn steer with parts that represent the state of Texas. Components include a model of the Alamo and a small bust of Sam Houston. A guitar is in sheet metal outlined with roller chain, with more roller chain for the frets and bolts for the tuning keys.
  “It looks like leather and silver from a distance,” says Lopez. “It’s designed to represent all of Texas. It’s priced at $200,000, and I hope to find a home for it in the Austin, Texas area.”
  Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, John Lopez, 19493 Railway St., Lemmon, S. Dak. 57638 (ph 605 209-0954; johnlopezstudio@gmail.com; www.johnlopezstudio.com).

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Western Sculptures Combine Bronze Castings With Scrap Metal FARM HOME Miscellaneous John Lopez has found a use for cast iron and other scrap farm machinery and equipment He combines it with bronze castings that he is noted for turning it all into one-of-a-kind sculptures often with an agricultural theme “I started out doing sculptures cast in bronze ” says Lopez “That has transitioned as I began incorporating the bronze into scrap iron ” Lopez grew up going to brandings and roundups around Lemmon S Dak where he now lives and works “My job is to flesh out stories that tell our history here ” he says His work is like no other From a distance the often larger than life-size sculptures may look like a horse buffalo or Longhorn steer Up close the eye is drawn to the individual pieces of iron that have been used Black Hawk a draft horse sculpture created in 2013 includes a single bottom plow that could have been pulled by a real horse “Black Hawk really touched a nerve with a lot of people ” says Lopez “When you see it’s really made out of tractor and equipment parts that gives it another dimension ” From a distance the draft horse at work is evident Up close the mane and hair on the fetlocks become chain and the head body and legs become an amalgamation of equipment seats shovels discs and more A neck rippling with muscles becomes lengths of roller chain and steel cable blending with a pattern in silver forks Lopez starts by sculpting a figure in clay He then uses a caliper to take measurements carefully transferring them into life-size or larger pieces He never knows what pieces of scrap will go into a sculpture Sometimes a piece goes off in a different direction “It means a lot to me when a rancher gives me a piece of equipment he worked with ” he says Lopez does only a couple of pieces a year When he gets an idea he researches it and creates it Only then does he look for a home for it Black Hawk was purchased by a private collector who put it on public display at a farmer’s market in Kensington N H “What fits me best is doing a piece I want to do pouring myself into it and then taking it out and selling it ” he says His latest piece is a Longhorn steer with parts that represent the state of Texas Components include a model of the Alamo and a small bust of Sam Houston A guitar is in sheet metal outlined with roller chain with more roller chain for the frets and bolts for the tuning keys “It looks like leather and silver from a distance ” says Lopez “It’s designed to represent all of Texas It’s priced at $200 000 and I hope to find a home for it in the Austin Texas area ” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup John Lopez 19493 Railway St Lemmon S Dak 57638 ph 605 209-0954; johnlopezstudio@gmail com; www johnlopezstudio com

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