Show Us Your Purse

■ Who? Bonnie Kelso, local artist

■ Location: A.R.T. Evolution Gallery in Corporate Center

■ Handbag: Custom creation with artwork by Bonnie Kelso

■ Are handbags status symbols? In our society I believe they are. Design and fine art play similar roles in the consumer market. People often select artwork the same way they purchase handbags, from trendy, popular or notable names and brands. Of course, only other people who know the trends and brands will find your "status symbol" impressive.

■ What does this bag say about you? I'm no stranger to shameless marketing? If nothing else, it's a conversation piece that helps me explain to people who I am and what I do. I'm a creative do-it-yourself kind of gal, and I think it definitely says that about me.

■ If someone found your bag and looked inside, what would they think of you? They'd probably think, "Who took the girl's stuff? Is this one of those man bags?" I hardly ever carry makeup, combs, hand lotion. I don't know, what do normal women carry in their purses?

■ What's the most important item you've carried in your bag? I carried my friend's engagement ring one night. It was during her bachelorette party and she was afraid of losing it, so she gave it to me for safekeeping. I have to say, it made me very nervous because I never carry anything of real value. I had to keep peeking in there all night to make sure it was still there.

■ What's the strangest item you've carried in your bag? My hammer! It's small and I use it to hang my art. Sometimes I forget to empty my purse, so I'll often be out for the evening and find it in there. My grandfather gave it to me when I was little and it always makes me smile.

■ Tell us about the first special bag you owned. My first purse: a wooden-handled Bermuda bag with a reversible fabric pouch that attached with buttons. My BFF in the fifth grade had one and I just had to have one, too. It was great having a place to keep my cherry ChapStick and Tic Tacs.

■ Knockoffs: Love 'em or hate 'em? In theory, I'd have to say I'm not a fan. It doesn't seem fair to the designers. On the other hand, if I walked into a street market in Katmandu and found a guy in a booth selling knockoffs of my paintings, I'd get a huge kick out of that!

■ Image is ... not the whole picture. You can hope your personal image is a reflection of yourself on your very best day. But, image is not usually a complete representation of a human (or business) with their winning features and unfavorable faults all wrapped up in one neat package. Even with my artwork, the image doesn't tell the whole story and this compels me to write.

■ What's in your bag? Day planner, tape measure, torpedo level, pacifier, hammer, sketchbook.