Museum puts on the dog with Wegman exhibit

Claudia Figueroa

Imagine waking up one morning and discovering you live in a world of

Weimaraner dogs who walked, talked and even dressed like you.

Welcome to William Wegman’s world.

“William Wegman: Retrospective of Three Decades of Art,” on display at

the Orange County Museum of Art through July 16, features a collection of

photographs that show the thin line Wegman draws between man and canine.

Wegman’s Weimaraners are stately animals posed with human-like

expressions, conveying a sense of melancholy or forlorn appearances.

But Wegman’s work isn’t just about the dog photographs. The exhibit also

features abstract paintings, silver gelatin prints, drawings, videos,

black-and-white photographs and other early works by the artist.

“Critics praise Wegman for his long career and the many different

artistic explorations he made in the ‘70s with video and altering

photographs,” museum spokesman Brian Langston said. “He was well

established as an artist to be taken seriously before he took photos of

dogs.

“People appreciate Wegman’s dog pictures because they’re soulful, and

like most good art, there’s a need to uncover a deeper layer.”

It is overwhelmingly clear to some visitors at the Wegman exhibit who the

real stars of the show are--Man Ray and Fay, Wegman’s two floppy-eared,

wide-eyed Weimaraner muses.

In some of the portraits, Wegman’s dogs wear wigs, shirts, suits and

dresses. As most dog owners know, posing the animals is not an easy task.

But, with Man Ray and Fay, it must be an act of true loyalty.

Wegman’s canine-themed “Cinderella” and “Mother Goose” are popular

children’s books. And with the advent of more dog-friendly environments,

such as special parks, beaches and even bakeries, more people are

beginning to realize that maybe it really is a dog’s world.

“The monumental amount of interest in dogs and cats is truly amazing,”

Langston said. “As a dog owner, I can relate to people’s interests in

their pets. It’s nice to come home after a demanding day at work and

there’s someone there who is very glad to see me. Society is so complex

and challenging that people need [the attention]. Pets are an anchor in a

stormy sea of modern life.”

FYI

WHAT: “William Wegman: Retrospective of Three Decades of Art”

WHERE: Orange County Museum of Art, 850 San Clemente Drive, Newport Beach

HOURS: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday

HOW MUCH: General admission is $5, or $4 for seniors and students. Museum

members and children 16 years and younger get in free. Admission is free

every Tuesday.

TELEPHONE: (949) 759-1122

CUTLINES

#1--”Double Up” (1989) is an example of William Wegman’s famous canine

photographs. An exhibit of Wegman’s work is on display at the Orange

County Museum of Art.

#2 -- “Private Show” was created by William Wegman in 1978. His work

is featured at the Orange County Museum of Art.