Junior 'wireman' keeps grandfather's legacy alive

Rod Cleveland shows some of his wire sculptures, including a walking horse that he recently sold. (T-G Photo by Sadie Fowler) [Order this photo]

"I watched him for 30 years and one day he stopped making pieces for me and told me I could do it myself," Cleveland, 41, said. "I was amazed by his work."

Three years after his grandfather, renowned artist Vannoy Streeter, passed away, Cleveland decided to put his grandfather's advice to work. Now, eight years later, Cleveland knows he can do it himself, and he keeps his grandfather's legacy alive by creating fancy pieces of art made from wire.

Some things have changed, while others remain the same for the junior "wireman."

For one, Cleveland loves to make walking horses, just like his self-taught grandad, who said in an interview years ago the reason he made his first wire horse was because he couldn't afford a real one.

Cleveland said his grandfather literally collected old metal coat hangers from his customers, but that idea didn't work out so well for Cleveland.

"I tried it his way," he said. "People would give him old wires, but there's too many gauges, and I didn't have the hand strength."

Now, Cleveland orders his wire by the box, unlike his grandfather, and says doing so allows him to keep all of his wire consistent.

Since 2001, Cleveland has made about 20 pieces during the little spare time he has from full-time work, coaching and fatherhood.

He makes horses, trains, planes, helicopters, space shuttles and pretty much anything that's not animated. He will put a rider on a horse if requested, but faces on those riders are not his strong suit -- yet.

Though he grew up here, he lived in Florida until recently and while there, he said there was a decent market for boats.

In Shelbyville, he caters to the horse industry, just like the original wireman. In fact, he said his most prized piece of work is the first horse, which carries a rider, he made five years ago for his daughter, Olivia.

And just as he admired his grandfather's work, Olivia loves to watch her dad. Will she continue the family tradition?

"It requires very strong hands," Cleveland said. The only tools Cleveland uses are needle nose pliers and wire snips.

Cleveland's goal this fall and winter is to build on his little side business when his job at a local country club slows down.

"I do a lot of my work in the winter, and depending on my mood and inspiration," he said. He gets a great deal of peace and satisfaction from the work he described as being therapeutic and relaxing.

"When I look at a finished piece it makes me think of my grandfather," he said.

In pursuing this goal, Cleveland will be working and doing demonstrations at local businesses in the upcoming months. Recently, he worked for a day at Designz By You in Bell Buckle, and, in doing so, he said he was able to meet some new customers. His business primarily comes through word of mouth.

He said friends of his have helped him, too, especially Rusty Reed, owner of a local radio station.

"He has always appreciated my work and I told him I needed an avenue and he started knocking on some doors," he said.

Cleveland said the art holds up excellently, as long as it is kept dry. He said many of his grandfather's pieces are still in great shape.

To contact Cleveland, call (931) 625-4717.