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Discover the Unique Devil's Rope Artwork of Artist Jeff Best
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Artist Statement
I love the story of old. A broken down barn or thread barren piece of furniture, or a rusted old farm implement which has served its purpose, patiently awaiting its final decay.
What would each dent, frayed thread or fleck of rust tell us? Would it brag about its past or would it lament the abuse from the hand of its owner? Would it share with us the history that passed before it as it performed its daily duties or would it simply reflect on its long lonely life?
The story of old can only be told when each tick of the clock has performed its entire symphony with hopes we are intrigued enough to listen, from the crescendo to the sonata.
This is why barbed-wire intrigues me. Manufactured to hold back livestock or establish individual property boundaries, barbed wire serves its determined and ominous purpose. Its shinny galvanized surface, proud and foreboding when anchored in place will only be diminished by time and elements, things that are not within its control.
Like a malleable piece of wire I would like to believe we all have potential for a renewed purpose. Even though our original purpose may have been served with dignity and honor, a re-purpose could turn us into a truly esthetically pleasing new work of art. We have so much more to offer than what we really know.
Unlike the barbed wire fence that held back livestock we ourselves are the only thing holding us back. We might be old and rusty but we can still offer an esthetically pleasing purpose if we’re willing to be molded into a new form.
My barbed-wire sculptures are determined to be esthetically pleasing to the eye… but the true intrinsic value has more to do with the heart. I hope you enjoy the reclamation of purpose that my sculptures represent.
Watch a Project in Time Lapse
I love the story of old. A broken down barn or thread barren piece of furniture, or a rusted old farm implement which has served its purpose, patiently awaiting its final decay.
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What would each dent, frayed thread or fleck of rust tell us? Would it brag about its past or would it lament the abuse from the hand of its owner? Would it share with us the history that passed before it as it performed its daily duties or would it simply reflect on its long lonely life?
BUGLING
ELK
Jay's Sporting Goods commissioned a Devil's Rope Studio Elk, for the grand opening of their new 100,000 sq foot store in the heart of Michigan's Elk Country in Gaylord, Michigan.
The "Bugling Elk", named "Bear", is 10 feet long and 8 feet tall. and stands over the main entrance 15 feet in the air.
The massive Elk had to be hoisted into its position by building cranes with the artist giving Bear its final touches as it settled into place.
You can find Bear and Jays Sporting Goods in Gaylord at:
Jays Sporting Goods
Places We Have Displayed
Gypsy Vanner
The Gypsy Vanner served as inspiration for this piece. The Gypsy Vanner is a horse that was originally developed by Romanian peoples native to the British Isles. These horses are easily recognizable by their long, flowing manes and tails, and the profusion of feathers on their legs. These make them look as if they fly when they run. Contact Jeff to get a sculpture of your horse.
News Articles
Posted: Monday, May 4, 2015 1:41 pm | Updated: 4:45 pm, Mon May 4, 2015.
GAYLORD — Jay’s Sporting Goods has been selected as the 2015 Alpenfest Honored Industry, joining a long list of highly respected local businesses and organizations that have been honored each year since Alpenfest began over 50 years ago.
A retail staple of the Gaylord community since 2000, Jay’s Sporting Goods was founded by Jay Poet in Clare in the early 1970’s. Today Jay’s wife, Arlene Yost, and sons Jeff and John own the company. Late last year Jay’s began a renovation project at the former Kmart on South Otsego Avenue. They recently completed the move from their former 41,000 square foot Gaylord facility at the southern end of town to this new 91,000 square foot store. Jay’s is hiring a dozen new employees and have plans to bring on additional employees in the near future.
“Gaylord is such a great community," Jeff Poet said. "We are excited about this move and are honored to receive this recognition. It is humbling to be part of a tradition that has recognized the people and organizations who have made a difference here in the Gaylord community.”
The Alpenfest Honors Committee annually convenes representatives from the Alpenfest Board of Directors, the Gaylord Area Chamber of Commerce and the community at large to review candidates for the Honored Industry award. The honoree should be “a great friend to the community, should work to improve rapport between community groups, and have a significant impact on the community.”
The Gaylord Herald Times was named Alpenfest Honored Industry in 2014.
As Honored Industry, Jay’s Sporting Goods will be recognized throughout the festival and saluted at the Alpenfest Honors Luncheon, to be held at The Otsego Club’s Special Event Center at noon on Tuesday, July 14. Tickets will go on sale in June. For more information, contact the Gaylord Area Chamber of Commerce at (989) 732-6333.
Best Outdoors Barbed Wire Sculpting By Brandon Hodgins
Feb 10, 2014
Jeff Best of Clare, MI has always had an artistic side of him just waiting to burst out. As owner of Best Outdoors, he’s spent his days since 2003 manufacturing industry leading ATV and tractor oriented planter and soil preparation equipment for the outdoor enthusiast. His work has allowed anyone with an ATV to hook up one of his lightweight, durable cultipackers and plant a professional garden or food plot. As a business owner and father, his never ending responsibilities have kept him from watering the seed of artistic creativity that was planted within him long ago. Until now, that is.
The frozen ground has slowed the planting business to a halt until spring. Jeff has taken this time to unleash the artist inside with his unique, barbed wire sculptures. He’s been bending and twisting re-claimed barbed wire into life-size, outdoors inspired creations. He’s crafted an elk head and a non-typical whitetail buck shoulder mount. He’s done a trio of landing ducks, a rooster and a European style whitetail skull and rack.
“I love the whitetail deer form so much that at one time I made a couple small deer sculptures out of coat hangers that my kids took to school each year for their “show and tell” events,” said Jeff. “Once, one of their teachers told them that “Your dad couldn’t have made that!” Right then I decided I was going to make a large one to prove her wrong. It only took me 20 years to finally do this.”
This life-sized bull elk mount was crafted entirely from re-claimed barbed wire by Jeff Best. He does his work entirely freehand.The recycled and repurposed barbed wire that Jeff uses gives his sculptures a depth that can’t be found on anything shiny. It adds character to the creations. Bent barbs and rusty wire are woven into pieces that embody the rugged and beautiful farm lands of Clare County that Jeff calls home. Every inch of his sculptures are made from fencing that has retired from its duties holding up horses and cattle in Clare. What used to stretch across the rolling hills of Pioneer Country as working wire, is now given a second chance and a new purpose.
“Since I’m a hunter and roam the farm fields and brushy fence lines during the hunting season, I come across plenty of rolled up wire,” said Jeff. “Farmers are more than happy to let me take everything they have…typically,” he added.
If there ever was a mold for this kind of art, Jeff has broken it. Everything he does is completely freehand. Therefore, no two creations will ever be the same. Jeff uses photos and his own taxidermy mounts as a guide. He’s been busting big bucks for years, so he has plenty of trophies to help make sure the sizes and proportions are right. His eyes and hands work together and his love for the outdoors is the driving force behind Best Outdoors Barbed Wire Sculpting.
“Like many, there is just something in me that draws me to the outdoors,” said Jeff. “I love to hunt however just spending time in a tree as nature wakes up and goes to sleep is very therapeutic for me,” he added.
Jeff offers these unique pieces for sale and he also has some art galleries handling his artwork. Damselfly Studio and Gallery in Midway, KY has even expressed interest in his “Barbie Art”. He plans to do several art shows this summer to gauge the interest in his creations. Jeff and his barbed wire sculptures can be found on Facebook at Best Outdoors- Barbed Wire Sculpting.
The story of old can only be told when each tick of the clock has performed its entire symphony with hopes we are intrigued enough to listen, from the crescendo to the sonata.
This is why barbed-wire intrigues me. Manufactured to hold back livestock or establish individual property boundaries, barbed wire serves its determined and ominous purpose. Its shinny galvanized surface, proud and foreboding when anchored in place will only be diminished by time and elements, things that are not within its control.
Like a malleable piece of wire I would like to believe we all have potential for a renewed purpose. Even though our original purpose may have been served with dignity and honor, a re-purpose could turn us into a truly esthetically pleasing new work of art. We have so much more to offer than what we really know.
Unlike the barbed wire fence that held back livestock we ourselves are the only thing holding us back. We might be old and rusty but we can still offer an esthetically pleasing purpose if we’re willing to be molded into a new form.
My barbed-wire sculptures are determined to be esthetically pleasing to the eye… but the true intrinsic value has more to do with the heart. I hope you enjoy the reclamation of purpose that my sculptures represent.