An iguana sculpture made of tools, chains, auto parts, nuts, bolts, drill bits and screws took the top spot in the Forest Preserve District of Will County’s 2021 “Sculpting WILD” juried art show.

“Iguana” by Juan Lopez of Justice was deemed by a panel of judges to be the top entry from among 38 artworks that were on display at Plum Creek Nature Center in Crete Township from March 2 through April 3. A total of 53 pieces were submitted for consideration.

The metal lizard is 2 feet wide, 1 foot tall, almost 6 feet long and it weighs around 45 pounds. Lopez, a scrap metal artist, has been creating metal art for seven years out old and discarded tools, automotive parts and found objects and the work has become his passion, he said.

Lopez called the first place finish “awesome.”

“It was great news,” he said, “especially because there were so many great artists in the show. And it was my first time in an art competition.”

The scraps he uses to create his artwork come from “everywhere,” he said.

“I go to yard sales, flea markets and even find things on the side of the road. I also upcycle all of my scraps from work.”

June Finnegan, of Crete, came in second with her “Nature’s Symbiosis” sculpture.

The retired art teacher said the abstract limestone sculpture highlights organic forms flowing across the piece “showing flower, egg, bird, flora and fauna in balance.”

The jury awarded David Wheeler, of Joliet, third place for his piece, “Sinistral.”

Wheeler is a former railcar diesel mechanic who has taken up woodworking as a hobby. His piece is made of zebrawood and wenge — an exotic, dark colored wood — and it portrays a shell’s uncommon left hand growth, which is called a sinistral.

“Most people don’t realize that shells grow both dextral (to the right) and sinistral (to the left),” he said.

A sculpture titled “The Hungry Giraffe” by Deanna Lynn Otten, of Somonauk, was the top vote-getter in the People’s Choice Award, which was determined by public voting on the District’s Facebook page. More than 1,900 votes were cast.

The juried art show was offered in partnership with The Nature Foundation of Will County, willcountynature.org. Cash prizes of $500 for first, $250 for second, $200 for third and $100 for the People’s Choice were awarded to the winners.