West
Squatter Fodder
I've been benching for a year or two now and writing monikers as long. Still suck!
I'm curious as to how many travelers actually write monikers these days? Any of you guys feel the need to mark all?
HISTORY: For those who don't know, monikers or "monicas" were names given to hobos by their peers, starting in the late 1800s. The hobos carved these names along with pictures into the sides of wooden water tanks, boxcars, and anything nailed down. The art form switched over to chalk in the early 1900s as railcars became steel-sided, and then permanent paintstik in the later 1900s with the development of... paintstik. In the 70s and 80s graffiti writers began taking over the moniker scene, although some travelers including coaltrain remained prolific writers. Today moniker art is a thriving illegal art scene and boasts bazillions of writers and toys. Just about every car has at least one moniker on it, sometimes dozens. They usually take the form of small, simple designs with clean lines in white or black paintstik that have a title and are repetitive in the design. Some travelers still write monikers but I rarely see them (as far as I can tell). The idea is to write as many as you can, come up with clever designs and sayings, and get fame and renown, or feed your obsession for painting on steel - some moniker writers (matokie slaughter AKA margaret killgallen among them) launched art careers that stemmed from their moniker writing.
Some personal favorites are Deuce Seven, Colossus of Roads, Clawhamr, Coaltrain... Look 'em up if you have the time.
I'm curious as to how many travelers actually write monikers these days? Any of you guys feel the need to mark all?
HISTORY: For those who don't know, monikers or "monicas" were names given to hobos by their peers, starting in the late 1800s. The hobos carved these names along with pictures into the sides of wooden water tanks, boxcars, and anything nailed down. The art form switched over to chalk in the early 1900s as railcars became steel-sided, and then permanent paintstik in the later 1900s with the development of... paintstik. In the 70s and 80s graffiti writers began taking over the moniker scene, although some travelers including coaltrain remained prolific writers. Today moniker art is a thriving illegal art scene and boasts bazillions of writers and toys. Just about every car has at least one moniker on it, sometimes dozens. They usually take the form of small, simple designs with clean lines in white or black paintstik that have a title and are repetitive in the design. Some travelers still write monikers but I rarely see them (as far as I can tell). The idea is to write as many as you can, come up with clever designs and sayings, and get fame and renown, or feed your obsession for painting on steel - some moniker writers (matokie slaughter AKA margaret killgallen among them) launched art careers that stemmed from their moniker writing.
Some personal favorites are Deuce Seven, Colossus of Roads, Clawhamr, Coaltrain... Look 'em up if you have the time.
