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art inspired: william wegman, front-facade

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

No ordinary dog portraits, William Wegman's photos are well-respected in the art world, and are held in many permanent museum collections. His retrospectives include the Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, the Kunstmuseum, Lucerne, the Pompidou Center, Paris, The Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, The Brooklyn Museum of Art and the Wexner Center for the Arts, Columbus.

William Wegman


Wegman's Weinmaraner Man Ray, named after the surrealist French photographer, became so famous during their twelve-year collaboration, that, upon his passing The Village Voice named him ‘Man of the Year’. Grief-stricken by Ray’s death, Wegman made the decision not to get another dog, but some years later he met another Weimaraner. "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.”

While I'm not usually not drawn to the boho mixing of florals, or florals in general, Wegman's whimsical Front-Facade inspired me to get into the mix with wild abandon.

facade


Do you mix your florals?

Nancy Gonzalez Floral-appliqué crocodile clutch $3,125; Christopher Kane Laser-cut leather clutch $530; Stella Mccartney Botanical Falabella Chain Bag - on sale $718; Elliot Mann Multicolor Floral Patchwork Bag $335; D&G Floral silk maxi dress on sale $1,290; Paul & Joe Osmose floral-print silk-chiffon gown $1,605; Tibi maxi dress on sale $198; butter LONDON '3 Free Nail Lacquers $14; NARS Nail Polish $17; Seychelles Rogers - Vacchetta Fabric $80; Wand Cream Printed Espadrilles, TopShop $80; Casadei Women's 6098 Slingback Sandal $429; D&G on sale $556.

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28 Comments:

Blogger MM said...

Another great post, honey!!
I do mix my florals. I have a floral top that I wear it all the time with a floral skirt and floral sandals. I think it doesn't look good with something else..

Those outfits are gorgeous. I've always loved maxi dresses!! The first nail polish is amazing!

xoxoxo

5:25 AM  
Anonymous classiq said...

Mixing florals is such a bold act for me. I seldom wear floral prints, I would probably choose a clutch to go with a very simple oufit. Love the last dress. :)

5:53 AM  
Anonymous Cafe Fashionista said...

Ohmigosh Mary Jo this collection is incredible - I absolutely adore it all! :)

6:43 AM  
Blogger Kirby said...

Love the florals! And yes, I think I would mix!
xo
Alexa
www.theshortandthesweetofit.com

6:54 AM  
Blogger Audrey Allure said...

Now that I think about it, I have seen some of his work before. I really like the combo of that nail polish color with outfit #1.

7:14 AM  
Blogger Michelle Lee said...

Lovely inspirations! Amazing styling done

7:23 AM  
Blogger Sandy at Ooh La Frou Frou said...

His work always makes you smile. Wonderful job at mixing florals, Mary Jo! Love the combinations ;) xoxo Hope you had a lovely weekend. Mine included a quiet picnic by the water and fireworks. Yours?

Sandy at Ooh La Frou Frou
http://oohlafroufrou.blogspot.com

8:47 AM  
Blogger Couture Carrie said...

Love the inspiration and these amazing maxi dresses ~ gorgeous post, darling!

Hope you had a fabulous 4th as well!

xoxox,
CC

9:02 AM  
Blogger fashion and frank said...

This is a great post - my faves - doggies and stunning clothes - i love the florals and it is definitely a new direction for me - but i am getting keener and keener x

http://fashionandfrank.blogspot.com/

9:37 AM  
Blogger THE ALTERNATIVE WIFE said...

I definitely have seen his work before. This is one of my favorites. And the outfits you put together are just perfect! Love every single one and I'd defintiely wear them :) xoxo

10:49 AM  
Blogger Bourbon&Pearls said...

Ah I've filed the artists's name now, I know his work but would never have been able to name him.
I'm not big on florals but I love what you've put together.

10:59 AM  
Blogger Bad Joan said...

Great dresses! Love the dressed up dog - so cute!

http://blog.badjoan.com/

11:34 AM  
Anonymous Alexis of NorthOnHarper said...

I am very familiar wit Wegman's photos--- they aren't just cute, they are also smart!

Loving the looks--- all of them!

(AND super excited to have won the giveaway!)

12:41 PM  
Blogger Christel @ Captivated by image said...

The words on his lady muse dog are so sweet and what a gorgeous capture that is. Love the first two floral dresses. I love floral prints, I have a few and that is enough:)

1:19 PM  
Blogger Indie.Tea said...

His work is so much more complex than mere pet portraits...
And I've never mixed florals. I am a solids kind of person. Gorgeous dresses though.

2:56 PM  
Blogger FRANKIE HEARTS FASHION said...

I just adore that picture and yes, am a big fan of mixing! xo

3:10 PM  
Anonymous Meta Musings said...

I love Weimaraner's! We have one and they are such a great breed! His photos are so fabulous!! Great post!

3:50 PM  
Blogger katie said...

you have my paul & joe dress up there!!! i clipped that sucker out of bazaar in february and slapped it on my bulletin board as a GIGANTIC hint to hunkiest.
you can't miss it...even the painter said 'nice dress'.
guess who still has yet to notice: mr. inspector gadget!
glad you're feeling better.
no, i don't mix my florals with florals..but if i had that p & j in my possession, i'd throw a silk patterned scarf in my hair...
best. series. ever.

5:44 PM  
Blogger Whimsy Being said...

I've never seen that photograph before. I'm always learning something new here on TYS. I would definitely try one of these floor length floral numbers, though I don't know if I could pull off mixing florals. It'd be fun to try tho!

9:06 PM  
Blogger Claire said...

that portrait totally made me laugh! i love it. and i love the maxi dresses and floral wedges. beautiful!

spinning-threads.blogspot.com

9:55 PM  
Blogger Pop Champagne said...

I always think mixing florals is fun! of course there are ways you gotta do it but I think if it's done right it looks awesome!

10:07 AM  
Blogger Jess said...

Totally want that first dress!

11:10 AM  
Blogger LPC said...

Wait! I love these. Wouldn't this make an amazing concept for bridesmaids?

1:51 PM  
Blogger le sorelle said...

I love his artwork - it's so funny and original! I love those maxi dresses, too! Hopefully I'll look a little better than the dog in one ;)

-j
sorelle in style

2:32 PM  
Blogger Mary M. said...

All the posts, whether outfit posts or just writing are simply amazing and the name of the blog is really original! I was wonderring if you would have time to check mine, possibly follow each other? Hope we keep in touch!

Mary from http://teenfashiondiary.blogspot.com/

3:00 PM  
Anonymous honeybeeandmeonline.net said...

Love Love Love those dresses.........
How did you get the flu in the summer????
Lot's of Vitamin C and sleepppppp....


xxoo
Melissa

3:18 PM  
Blogger About Last Weekend said...

What a fabulous display of floral dresses and shoes - love florals on other people but never buy them myself and have yet to find a long dress that suits me, but these are all lovely!

5:06 PM  
Blogger Laura said...

Beautiful post Mary Jo! I don't think I would wear the dresses myself, but I would definately try those cheerful nail polishes you've chosen and try on the shoes. Have a happy weekend!

12:22 AM  

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