Have you ever heard of Tramp art?
Popular in the years between the 1870s to the 1940s when the art form started to decline, tramp art involves using whittled down small pieces of wood, primarily from discarded shipping crates and cigar boxes, into a variety of domestic objects using notching and layering techniques.
The Museum of International Folk Art is holding an exhibit called “No Idle Hands: The Myths & Meanings of Tramp Art” that opens on March 12th. Featuring more than 150 pieces from over half a dozen countries, the exhibit will explore the art form’s past as well as how this work continues into present day contemporary art.