What is Tramp Art?
Tramp art is a little known form of folk art which began in the United States in the early 1860s, created by homeless travelers. After the Civil War, many homebound soldiers found they had no homes or families remaining. Traveling across the country in search of work and meaning, these folks who hopped freight trains were known as tramps or home bounds, later abbreviated hobos. The rail riders learned the trade of tramp art to keep themselves occupied and to have something to exchange for food. Respectfully, they would stand outside the threshold of someones home and ask to exchange a newly created tramp art box for a sandwich, never stepping inside the home. The food was handed out the door, hence the term handout. What makes this art form special, besides its obvious necessity, was that it was whittled exclusively from found materials, particularly mahogany and cedar cigar boxes, which could be picked up practically anywhere. These boxes were hand notched with V-cuts and layer after
