A purse by Jennifer Dove Cooper Credit: ESSE Purse Museum

‘DOVETAIL PURSES’
THROUGH SUNDAY 9/15. ESSE Purse Museum. $8-$10. 

Who says handbags have to be dainty? That seems to be one of the questions driving New Orleans-based artist Jennifer Dove Cooper, whose handmade purses are fashioned from recycled materials, like egg cartons, clothing scraps and water bottles. She then intricately decorates them with papier-mache and paint, pushing her one-of-a-kind designs to a darkly illustrated and occasionally whimsical place. An exhibition of Cooper’s work is on display at the ESSE Purse Museum, open 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Tue.-Sun., where a selection of her jewelry, ornaments and decor is also available for purchase.

Daniel Grear is the culture editor at the Arkansas Times. Send artsy tips to danielgrear@arktimes.com