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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.

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.

Portfolio TitleSuburbia
Artist Bill Owens (American, born 1938)
Dateca. 1972; printed 1998
MediumGelatin silver print
DimensionsUnframed: 10 x 8 inches (25.4 x 20.32 cm)
Credit LineGift of Robert Koch in honor of the 75th anniversary of The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
Object number2007.54.14
SignedVerso: artist's signature in pencil; photographer's stamp: "Copyright Bill Owens/ Publishers Copy/ Printed 1998"
Edition/State/Proofed. 1/5
On View
Not on view
Collections
DescriptionWhite dog running down doggie ramp outside of house.
Portfolio; These prints were made in 1998 at the time of the publication of a new (expanded) edition of the original Suburbia book.
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.


That's a Brave Girl
That's a Brave Girl
Lewis W. Hine
1930
2005.27.1480
We moved up to a nicer house. We thought we'd do better, but the real estate man got us. Closing costs were supposed to be $295 but they turned out to be $750. They have you where they want you-you've already moved into the house.
We moved up to a nicer house. We thought we'd do better, but the real estate man got us. Closing costs were supposed to be $295 but they turned out to be $750. They have you where they want you-you've already moved into the house.
Bill Owens
ca. 1972; printed 1998
2007.54.7
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
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
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
I don't feel that Richie playing with guns will have a negative effect on his personality. (He already wants to be a policeman). His childhood gun-playing won't make him into a cop-shooter.
I don't feel that Richie playing with guns will have a negative effect on his personality. (He already wants to be a policeman). His childhood gun-playing won't make him into a cop-shooter.
Bill Owens
ca. 1972; printed 1998
2007.54.71
I have all the cares of home ownership and the privacy of apartment living. We have an investment in the house. So I find myself doing all the undesirable chores to protect our investment.
I have all the cares of home ownership and the privacy of apartment living. We have an investment in the house. So I find myself doing all the undesirable chores to protect our investment.
Bill Owens
ca. 1972; printed 1998
2007.54.86
We feel most people have the wrong attitude towards sex, that it's nasty and to be done only in the dark. With us sex takes care of itself.
We feel most people have the wrong attitude towards sex, that it's nasty and to be done only in the dark. With us sex takes care of itself.
Bill Owens
ca. 1972; printed 1998
2007.54.37
"We lived in our house for a year without furniture" (diptych)
"We lived in our house for a year without furniture" (diptych)
Bill Owens
ca. 1975
2005.27.4283,4284
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
FULTON. MO. MARCH.19.1973. THE COURT HOUSE' GANG." YES, THE COURT HOUSE GANG." YOU HAVE PROVED TO MY SATISFACTION." THAT YOU DON'T CARE ADAM'N" FOR' OLD MAN. HOWARD; ONLY. MY TAX $DOLLARS. YOU HAVE RAISED MY TAXES EVERY YEAR." FOR 28. LONG YEARS." YES, YOU ARE NOT SATI-SFIED" TO RAISE MY TAXES, BUT, SOME ONE OF THE GANG TOOK MY OLD AGE PENSION AWAY; MORE YET, YOU ARE: TAKING MONEY UNDER FALSE PRETENSE; I WAS FORCED TO JOIN THE CARPTNERS UNION; I WAS FIRED BECAUSE, I WOULD NOT; HOOT, TOOT, SHOOT DICE; WITH THE GANG.
FULTON. MO. MARCH.19.1973. THE COURT HOUSE' GANG." YES, THE COURT HOUSE GANG." YOU HAVE PROVED TO MY SATISFACTION." THAT YOU DON'T CARE ADAM'N" FOR' OLD MAN. HOWARD; ONLY. MY TAX $DOLLARS. YOU HAVE RAISED MY TAXES EVERY YEAR." FOR 28. LONG YEARS." YES, YOU ARE NOT SATI-SFIED" TO RAISE MY TAXES, BUT, SOME ONE OF THE GANG TOOK MY OLD AGE PENSION AWAY; MORE YET, YOU ARE: TAKING MONEY UNDER FALSE PRETENSE; I WAS FORCED TO JOIN THE CARPTNERS UNION; I WAS FIRED BECAUSE, I WOULD NOT; HOOT, TOOT, SHOOT DICE; WITH THE GANG.
Jesse Howard
1973
2017.17.1