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For centuries, people have traveled the seas exploring new territories, engaging in trade, fishing, and whaling. Mariners spent long periods of time confined to a ship surrounded by the sea. In the days of sailing ships, a stint aboard might last weeks, months, or years. A seaman had to be a jack-of-all-trades in order to perform his duties. To pass the time during slow periods and calm seas, sailors adapted their varied skill sets to a number of handicrafts. Using their imagination, men transformed wood, bone, and rope into a variety of folk art. Block with painted schooner "Aurora" courtesy of the collection of the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park (@sfmaritimenps). See "#AmericanFolkArt: An Enduring Legacy", on display, pre-security, in the International Terminal. http://bit.ly/AmericanFolkArt This image was posted on March 09, 2018.