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We had a ball on the Fourth of July. The whole neighborhood came out for the parade.
We had a ball on the Fourth of July. The whole neighborhood came out for the parade.

We had a ball on the Fourth of July. The whole neighborhood came out for the parade.

Portfolio TitleSuburbia
Artist Bill Owens (American, born 1938)
Dateca. 1972; printed 1998
MediumGelatin silver print
DimensionsImage: 9 3/8 × 6 7/8 inches (23.81 × 17.46 cm)
Sheet: 9 15/16 × 8 inches (25.24 × 20.32 cm)
Credit LineGift of Robert Koch in honor of the 75th anniversary of The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
Object number2007.54.2
SignedSignature on sheet verso, lower right corner, in pencil; Black stamp on sheet verso, lower right: "© BILL OWENS / PUBLISHERS COPY / PRINTED 1998"
Inscribednone
Markingsnone
Edition/State/Proofed. 1/5
On View
Not on view
Collections
DescriptionParade scene; woman in foreground holding American flag.
Portfolio; These prints were made in 1998 at the time of the publication of a new (expanded) edition of the original Suburbia book.Gallery Label
Bill Owens’ work provides a witty and ironic view of the rituals and lifestyles of middle-class suburban America. For his influential book Suburbia (1972; reissued 1999), Owens photographed and interviewed residents of three suburban California communities. The juxtaposition of images and texts offers humorous, candid insights into the lives of people who, in Owens’ words, had “realized the American Dream,” and enjoyed their suburban lifestyles.
Copyright© Bill Owens
Information about a particular artwork or image, including provenance information, is based upon historic information and may not be currently accurate or complete. Research on artwork and images is an ongoing process, and the information about a particular artwork or image may not reflect the most current information available to the Museum. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about a particular artwork or image, please e-mail provenance@nelson-atkins.org.


This is our second annual Fourth of July block party. This year thirty-three families come for beer, barbequed chicken, corn on the cob, potato salad, green salad, macaroni salad, and watermelon.
This is our second annual Fourth of July block party. This year thirty-three families come for beer, barbequed chicken, corn on the cob, potato salad, green salad, macaroni salad, and watermelon.
Bill Owens
ca. 1972; printed 1998
2007.54.80
This isn't what we really want-the tract house, the super car, etc....But as long as we are wound up in this high speed environment, we will probably never get out of it!
This isn't what we really want-the tract house, the super car, etc....But as long as we are wound up in this high speed environment, we will probably never get out of it!
Bill Owens
ca. 1972; printed 1998
2007.54.20
Our house is built with the living room in the back, so in the evenings we sit out front of the garage and watch the traffic go by.
Our house is built with the living room in the back, so in the evenings we sit out front of the garage and watch the traffic go by.
Bill Owens
ca. 1972; printed 1998
2007.54.113
I put it off until I can't stand it anymore. the rottenest job in the whole house is cleaning the bathroom.
I put it off until I can't stand it anymore. the rottenest job in the whole house is cleaning the bathroom.
Bill Owens
ca. 1972; printed 1998
2007.54.38
We lived in our house for a year without any living room furniture. We wanted to furnish the room with things we loved, not early attic or leftovers. Now we have everything but the pictures and the lamps. (#2 of 2-part diptych)
We lived in our house for a year without any living room furniture. We wanted to furnish the room with things we loved, not early attic or leftovers. Now we have everything but the pictures and the lamps. (#2 of 2-part diptych)
Bill Owens
ca. 1972; printed 1998
2007.54.52
We lived in our house for a year without any living room furniture. We wanted to furnish the room with things we loved, not early attic or leftovers. Now we have everything but the pictures and the lamps. (#1 of 2-part diptych)
We lived in our house for a year without any living room furniture. We wanted to furnish the room with things we loved, not early attic or leftovers. Now we have everything but the pictures and the lamps. (#1 of 2-part diptych)
Bill Owens
ca. 1972; printed 1998
2007.54.53
Because we live in the suburbs we don't eat too much Chinese food. It's not available in the supermarkets so on Saturday we eat hot dogs.
Because we live in the suburbs we don't eat too much Chinese food. It's not available in the supermarkets so on Saturday we eat hot dogs.
Bill Owens
ca. 1972; printed 1998
2007.54.26
Tuo-Tuo, our dog, is a very expensive household pet. It costs 30¢ a day to feed him-that's $109 a year-and $13 a month to have him groomed-that's $155 a year-not including the vet bill. We spend over $350 a year, but we don't care. We love him.
Tuo-Tuo, our dog, is a very expensive household pet. It costs 30¢ a day to feed him-that's $109 a year-and $13 a month to have him groomed-that's $155 a year-not including the vet bill. We spend over $350 a year, but we don't care. We love him.
Bill Owens
ca. 1972; printed 1998
2007.54.14
We're really happy. Our kids are healthy, we eat good food, and we have a really nice home.
We're really happy. Our kids are healthy, we eat good food, and we have a really nice home.
Bill Owens
ca. 1972; printed 1998
2007.54.33
Basically we are very much alike, the same individual. Our temperaments however are different, we reflect on things differently. My son was raised to think for himself. My father is an ex-army officer, I'm an ex-Marine.
Basically we are very much alike, the same individual. Our temperaments however are different, we reflect on things differently. My son was raised to think for himself. My father is an ex-army officer, I'm an ex-Marine.
Bill Owens
ca. 1972; printed 1998
2007.54.103
The California garage today, out of necessity, requires that you move the cars out and the tools in. To a point I enjoy working in the garage, but I'd rather be doing something else.
The California garage today, out of necessity, requires that you move the cars out and the tools in. To a point I enjoy working in the garage, but I'd rather be doing something else.
Bill Owens
ca. 1972; printed 1998
2007.54.18
We've been married two months and everything we own is in this room.
We've been married two months and everything we own is in this room.
Bill Owens
ca. 1972; printed 1998
2007.54.32