Purse Stories evolved from a collaboration with the Weave Dance Company. Together, the dancers and I worked on Womans p a c e, a full-length dance that used the purse as a metaphor for women’s private interior space. Womans p a c e premiered at Stages Repertory Theater in Houston, TX in May 1999.

A very special thanks to the Weave Dance Company. Your creativity, energy and collaborative spirit produced an eloquent work about women's lives and provided the impetus for Purse Stories.

During the months that I worked with Weave, conversations with friends generated stories about remembered purses.

In March 2000, an installation of stories, photo collages and antique purses became Purse Stories in a group exhibition called “Mama Said…Nine Interpretations.” Nine visual artists produced an intimate and revealing exhibition of multi-media work exploring the legacy that women inherit from their foremothers.

Thanks to each artist who worked on “Mama Said” and to the Houston Center for Photography for encouraging our work and sponsoring the exhibition at FotoFest, The International Month of Photography.

"Mama Said” generated tears and smiles of recognition from visitors. Viewers left messages and from them I gathered leads for more stories. Stories in book form seemed inevitable.

PurseStories.com was born so that a diverse and varied collection becomes possible. Please add to Purse Stories. Your story enriches us all.