Folk Sculpture: Tramp Art and Memory Jars at Webb’s Fair and Square, Fort Davis
An exhibition titled “Folk Sculpture” showcased a diverse array of tramp art and folk sculptures collected by Julie and Bruce Lee Webb over 40 years. Held at Webb’s Fair and Square in Fort Davis, Texas, the display ran from July 1 to August 27, 2026. It included elaborately carved wooden items such as cigar boxes, picture frames, bedframes, purses, and china cabinets, as well as Victorian memory jars. The ambiance evoked the warmth of a grandmother’s house, promoting hands-on engagement instead of passive viewing. Tramp art features the Crown of Thorns technique, a unique woodworking style. Notable among the artists is Zebedee Armstrong, inspired by an angelic encounter. Memory jars served to honor the deceased, though the names of those remembered have often been lost.
Key facts
- “Folk Sculpture” was on view at Webb’s Fair and Square in Fort Davis, Texas, from July 1 through August 27, 2026.
- The exhibition drew from a 40-year collection by owners Julie and Bruce Lee Webb.
- Tramp art includes carved wooden cigar boxes, picture frames, bedframes, purses, and china cabinets.
- The Crown of Thorns is a central tramp art construction technique using notched, interlocking wooden pieces at right angles.
- Victorian-era memory jars memorialize deceased individuals by gluing their objects onto a jar.
- Artist Zebedee Armstrong created calendars on everyday objects after claiming an angel visited him, driven by an obsession with time and Judgement Day.
- Many tramp art makers are unknown, reflecting a time before branding and self-promotion.
- The exhibition encouraged tactile interaction, contrasting with sterile gallery environments.
Entities
Artists
- Julie Webb
- Bruce Lee Webb
- Zebedee Armstrong
- Jesus
Institutions
- Webb’s Fair and Square
- Glasstire
Locations
- Fort Davis
- Texas
- United States
- Davis Mountains
- Far West Texas
- Europe
- New Orleans