Special to The Hays Daily News

LOGAN -- The Dane G. Hansen Memorial Museum is proud to announce the exhibit "Bead International" sponsored by the Dairy Barn Arts Center, Athens, Ohio, and the new addition of "The Purse and the Person, A Century of Women's Purses, curated by Curatrix Groups and sponsored by Smith Kramer Fine Arts Services. "Bead International" will be on display through Sept. 7, 2009, and "The Purse and the Person" will be on display through Sept. 28. Discover the dazzling beauty and light of beaded artwork and the life stories buried right under our noses in the purses carried by our mothers and grandmothers.

All approaches to beadwork are represented in the bead show's 54 pieces, from jewelry to sculpture. The exhibiting artists come from all over the U.S., and many of the works will be available for purchase and are representative of life or a period of time in someone's life. This particular show is from the "2006 Bead International Competition" at the Dairy Barn Arts Center in Athens, Ohio. Each biennial competition becomes a touring exhibit.

"The Purse and the Person" brings together life stories buried right under our noses -- in the purses women carry. In the mysterious depths of their purses, women reveal their personalities, their fashion sense and the everyday concerns that populate their lives.

Developed from a private collection of more than 3,000 purses and accessories, this exhibition looks at purses from the inside out, examining day-to-day life reflected in a personal, female artifact cache -- a woman's handbag.

Our August Artist of the Month is Twila Large from Ellis. Large will have several stained glass pieces on display and for sale. Stop by and see what she has to offer. This is the time of year for weddings, and any of these items would make a nice wedding gift.

We will be hosting our 32nd annual Labor Day celebration Aug. 31. The activities will begin at 8 a.m. and continue throughout the day.

The Prairie Dusters Drill Team will perform at 4:30 p.m., and the Buffalo Soldiers Drill Team at 5 p.m. The musical entertainment begins at 5:30 p.m. with the Warnock Family from Branson, Mo.

The Warnock Family is performing with Andy Williams at the Moon River Theater in Branson. At 7:30 p.m., the air will be filled with the bluegrass music of the McLemore Family from Colby.

The day will end with a fireworks display that can be seen for miles around. There is no admission fee.

Make your plans to attend. This is an all-day, fun-filled family event.

Museum hours are 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday; 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. Saturdays; and 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays and holidays.

For more information about this and other exhibits, contact Shirley at (785) 689-4846 or visit www.hansenmuseum.org.