"Pocketbook Anthropology: A Treasure of Handbags"
Pocketbook Anthropology: A Treasure of Handbags will be on display at the Museum of Anthropology from May 15 to August 16, 2008. Organized by ExhibitsUSA, the national exhibition touring program of Mid-America Arts Alliance, the exhibition takes a closer look at this uniquely significant item and
its place in today’s society.
For a woman, one of life’s most essential items is her handbag. Of all her belongings—and by whatever name it’s called, whether handbag, bag, purse, or old-fashioned pocketbook—this object is not only one of the most indispensable but also one of the most meaningful and best loved.
Pocketbook Anthropology showcases more than 50 purses dating from 1880 to the present day. Visitors will have a chance to view handbags made from a myriad of different materials ranging from cigarette packs to silk to beads to precious metals. There are funky bags, elegant bags, whimsical bags, and utilitarian bags.
The exhibition also features hands-on examples, as well as anecdotes, quips, and literary quotations about this uniquely feminine item.
On May 15, the Museum staff and MOA Friends will host a free public exhibit opening featuring light hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
The Museum of Anthropology invites visitors to bring their favorite pocketbooks so that photographs of North Carolina purses can be added to the display. The Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Admission is free. For more information about Pocketbook Anthropology or any other Museum exhibits and programs, please call (336) 758-5282.
Pocketbook Anthropology: A Treasure of Handbags is organized and toured by ExhibitsUSA. The purpose of ExhibitsUSA is to create access to an array of arts and humanities exhibitions, nurture the development and understanding of diverse art forms and cultures, and encourage the expanding depth and breadth of cultural life in local communities. ExhibitsUSA is a national division of Mid-America Arts Alliance, a private, nonprofit organization founded in 1972.
