William Wegman: Fay at Akron Art Museum

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Basic Shapes by William Wegman

To be honest, I have always had mixed feelings about William Wegman's work. I can't shake the feeling that his Weimaraners look sad, or at minimum annoyed. But much like my view of George Rodrigue's Blue Dog tempered into deep appreciation after learning more about his relationship to his muse, Tiffany, after reading the press notes for William Wegman: Fay at the Akron Art Museum, I am looking at Wegman's photos anew. And seeing his dog Fay as his collaborator, not simply his tool, makes me think differently about his work.

Here are some excerpts that changed my mind:

While living in California, Wegman acquired Man Ray, a Weimaraner whom he named after the surrealist French photographer. The dog became his partner in both life and art during their twelve-year collaboration. Man Ray became so famous that, upon his passing, he was named ‘Man of the Year’ by the New York City newspaper The Village Voice.

Grief-stricken by Ray’s death, Wegman made the decision not to get another dog, but some years later he came to meet another Weimaraner:

“When we first met in Memphis, Tennessee, she was six months old and her name was Cinnamon Girl. I named her Fay after Fay Wray, of course, but also after my first color Polaroid with Man Ray and the nail polish, which I had titled Fay Ray. Her fur was taupe, lighter and warmer-toned than Man Ray’s, and she had yellow eyes like in a Rousseau painting. I had no intention of photographing Fay. Man Ray was irreplaceable. I didn’t want to mar my memory of him.
… In a short time Fay matured from a coltish youth into a Garboesque beauty. My pictures grew with her. Now she was the muse, the adored one. Skin-deep beauty became the soul of my work.”

Fay had a chameleon-like quality very different from Man Ray's concrete presence. The bond between the artist and his muse is undeniable. Images of Fay balanced upon an ironing boarding in Sphinx (1987) and coolly starting into the lens from beneath a black net in Netted (1988) show her deep trust in Wegman.

I still don't know if balancing a dog on an ironing board is the best idea. But I think I see more love and less annoyance in Fay's eyes. And to me that makes a big difference.

If you are in the Akron area, you have a chance to hear William Wegman speak on May 15, 2009 at 6:30 pm. Tickets are available here.

William Wegman: Fay runs from May 16 to August 16, 2009 at the Akron Art Museum.

Comments

10 responses to “William Wegman: Fay at Akron Art Museum”

April 30, 2009

WendyB

I know I’ve mentioned that we were lucky enough to have Wegman take our dogs’ picture! He was very good with them and knew exactly when they’d had enough. If anyone was annoyed it was me — by my pooches’ bad behavior!

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April 30, 2009

Moira

Very cool story. Thanks for sharing Wendy. That makes me feel even better about his work. Maybe it is just the way Weimaraners look, their expression that makes them look like they are exasperated.
I think I may have asked you this, if you have those photos of GiGi and Henry handy, I would love to see them and feature them here. No pressure.

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April 30, 2009

sabrina

wow, i loved that! thank you for sharing!

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April 30, 2009

Grace

Ok that is SO COOL that WendyB had her dogs photographed by Wegman! That said, I also have mixed feelings about his work…

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May 1, 2009

lunarmagpie

Fay (along with numerous sketches of her) was in the music video for New Order’s “Blue Monday ’88” — she’s doing some very interesting poses throughout. I have absolutely no idea how they managed some of them!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3duUzBbBmmc

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May 2, 2009

manon doyle

Thanks for sharing Moira! Pretty interesting!

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May 4, 2009

claire

thanks for this post! you totally inspired me to check out more about wegman’s work. i have one dog who is like fay–she do just about anything for me and then freeze while i photograph her (often this involves balancing objects on her head). she gets plenty of cookies afterwards, and i honestly believe she likes it. her photos take on their own life (i’ve never met a dog with a more expressive face, i swear). we have a second dog who doesn’t have this aptitude whatsoever, so i think it’s a quality some dogs just have. fay must have had it to the umpteenth score.

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May 4, 2009

patti

I have always loved Wegman’s work and was delighted when he made an appearance at a gallery in Dallas in 2000 for his fashion photo exhibit. He spoke to the audience lovingly about his companions, his dogs. When I had the chance to speak one on one with him, as he autographed my book with a little dog sketch, we discussed Westies. I lived with one at the time and his in-laws had a couple of Westies that amused and puzzled his dogs with their tiny size and very, very whiteness. I love Wendy’s photos and thank her for sharing them.

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May 4, 2009

lauren

When i got my weim pup a few years ago i had no intention of becoming a dog photographer. But as i became enamored with my new muse and started documenting her every mood i realized Wegman’s secret was no more: weim’s just love being photographed! Of course i don’t dress mine up but she will patiently sit and pose for me when she’s in the mood. Needless to say a weim changed my life with her need to be the center of my attention 😉

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November 28, 2014

Victoria Siegel

Love the pictures. I have an amazing looking Arab Horse,

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