Hobo Symbols for Occupy
For years I've been fascinated by Hoboglyphs, or images hobos drew to communicate information about specific locations. Hobos were known to utilize a series of small glyphs in an effort of solidarity to warn and support other travelers. Often scrawled hastily (and sometimes with chalk) on gates or telephone poles, the Hobo Signs would let other hobos know if work was available in a particular town, if police tolerated hobos, or if an area was safe to camp in. These symbols were also used to covertly share information about available resources. The Hobo Code could add a small element of safety when traveling to new places.
While many modern Hobo Signs apply to situations occupiers face today, I wanted to design Hobo Symbols that specifically address the needs of occupiers. These can be interpreted as art or used in real life much like the hashtag is used on Twitter. For instance, the third image "Sleeping bags only here" is an obvious reference to #sleepfulprotest. I've tried to create images that are simple enough to be drawn quickly (hopefully via chalkupy) while being mindful that some images should be easy to interpret while others perhaps should not be too obvious.
Below are the first few. I have about ten more coming out soon, and hopefully these will be incorporated into a Comix about Tentmonster Bucky - a tentmonster who chalkupies in areas where camping bans are enforced.
Special thanks to Twitter friends @Matericia and @occupy_sxsw for your feedback and support regarding these first nine hobo symbols.
I have many more coming including GA Meets Here, Could Not Find Encampment, Police Target Livestreamers, We bang on stuff and make shit happen, Good Dumpster Diving Nearby, Human Chain Effective form of Peaceful Protest Here, Occupiers Gather Here Regularly, and a few others.
If you have an Occupy Hobo Symbol you'd like to contribute or an idea for an Occupy Hobo Symbol, please contact @small_affair via Twitter, comment on this post, or use the Contact US link on this website!
~ small affair