Submission Deadline Nears for 'Sculpting WILD' juried art show

The deadline to submit a photo of your nature-themed sculpture for
the Forest Preserve District's 2021 “Sculpting WILD” juried art show
competition is Jan. 29.

Apply online by submitting digital photos of your work.

Once the artwork is chosen and artists are notified, the show will be held from March 2-April 2 at Plum Creek Nature Center.

Winners will receive $500 for first place, $250 for second place, $200
for third place and $100 for a people’s choice award. The contest is
sponsored by The Nature Foundation of Will County.

This year’s "WILD" theme was picked to reflect the Forest Preserve’s
mission, said Suzy Lyttle, a program coordinator for the District.

“We are here to protect and enhance our local ecosystems while also
educating and connecting people to nature,” she said.

“When thinking about art, I want us to be inspired by our wild sides! The side that
gets goosebumps when you see a deer on a hike. The side that smiles at
the sight of the first spring flower. The side that loves the smell in
the air after it rains. I can’t wait to see what it means to be 'WILD'
for the artists.”

This will be the third juried art show hosted by the Forest
Preserve. “The first one was all about the spring season,” Lyttle said.
“The second was all about nature taking flight.”

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The 2021 competition is all about sculptures.

“Previously, we have accepted all sorts of different mediums for the
art competitions,” Lyttle said. “This time, we are focusing in on
sculptures with a bigger picture in mind.”

The idea to feature sculptures grew out of the “Found Objects
Sculpture Trail” exhibit currently on display along Goodenow Grove
Nature Preserve's Snapper Pond path. The sculptures were created by
artist Jennifer Meyer.

“It has been a great success and we want to rotate exhibits along
that trail more often,” Lyttle said. “I hope to find more sculptors in
our area with the potential of having their works spotlighted along the
trail.”

For the "Sculpting WILD" competition, Lyttle said she would love to
see a wide range of sculpting mediums including wood, ceramics, rock,
metal and upcycled materials. Artists could build habitats, carve wild
animals or mold beautiful wildflowers.

“I could see 'WILD' entrants representing natural habitats including
trees, forests and prairies,” she said. “It is all up for
interpretation.”

Once the artwork is chosen for the show, it will be displayed inside the
nature center, or possibly outside in the nature garden areas, until
the show concludes on April 2. Artists are allowed to sell their pieces
and they will receive 100 percent of the sale price, but the sculptures
must remain on display throughout the show.

Artists who submit their work for consideration will be notified on
February 9 if it has been chosen for the show. Pieces must be delivered
between February 16-23 and picked up April 4-11 after the
show concludes.

Artists must be 18 years of age or older to enter the competition.
For more information on the competition, including all the rules and how
to submit your artwork for consideration, visit the "Sculpting WILD" page.