September 2007 – Sex on the Rebound: Erotic Purses by Caitlin Phillips

Sex on the Rebound: Erotic handbags Sex on the Rebound: Handbags handcrafted from the bindings of erotic literature by Caitlin Phillips Aphrodite Gallery Sept. 2007 SEPTEMBER 14 Meet the artist at the free SEX ON THE RE-BOUND reception from 7-9PM in the Aphrodite Gallery at PASSIONAL, 704 S. 5th St. Philadlehpia, PA Gallery hours 2-6PM Sundays Aphrodite Gallery at PASSIONAL is proud to present Sex on the Re-bound, a month long exhibit of high-fashion purses meticulously handcrafted from the hard-covers of classic erotic books by artist Caitlin Phillips. Caitlin has dedicated herself to the rescue and transformation of all unwanted literature. Most of the books that come her way are otherwise unwanted, often gleaned from library sales, thrift stores and trash bins. However Ms. Phillips also creates custom pieces from clients’ personal selections by commission. She has been collecting and contemplating the erotic-themed pieces for this collection in earnest for the past six months, with results to stimulate the mind, the body and any number of femme fashion aesthetics. After a careful selection of unique fabric and handles, each book cover is reborn as a beautiful one-of-a-kind handbag, combining fashion with an appreciation for the literary. Caitlin is best known for her instantly recognizable “bookpurses”, handcrafted purses made from old hardback books each of which begins with a hardback book. A Washington, D.C. native Ms. Phillips also meticulously chops up old romance novels that she shellacs and turns into her “Naughty Bits” lapel pins, available at Philadelphia’s PASSIONAL Boutique. Caitlin’s brand, Rebound Designs has become a familiar staple of the historic Eastern Market on DC’s Capitol Hill, and Caitlin’s purses and Naughty Bits pins are sold through a combination of on-site sales, retail stores and online storefronts. All of her work is made in her live/work studio in the Mount Rainier Artist Lofts in Maryland. Caitlin’s purses have been featured in the Washington Post, the Sierra Club Magazine, multiple blogs, as well the HGTV’s show “Crafters Coast to Coast”. Celebrity clients of Rebound Designs include Dr. Ruth Westheimer