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I put my hair up once or twice a week. It's the only way I can get curls in it. When it's combed out, I'm willing to be seen in public.
I put my hair up once or twice a week. It's the only way I can get curls in it. When it's combed out, I'm willing to be seen in public.

I put my hair up once or twice a week. It's the only way I can get curls in it. When it's combed out, I'm willing to be seen in public.

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 number2007.54.76
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
DescriptionWoman seated, wearing large curlers in her hair.
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.


I bought the lawn in six-foot rolls. It's easy to handle. I prepare the ground and my wife and son helped roll out the grass. In one day you have a front yard.
I bought the lawn in six-foot rolls. It's easy to handle. I prepare the ground and my wife and son helped roll out the grass. In one day you have a front yard.
Bill Owens
ca. 1972; printed 1998
2007.54.6
We've been collecting rocks since 1958. It's enjoyable to get out into the open and hunt for rocks, and it's really fun to cut open a rock and find a gem inside.
We've been collecting rocks since 1958. It's enjoyable to get out into the open and hunt for rocks, and it's really fun to cut open a rock and find a gem inside.
Bill Owens
ca. 1972; printed 1998
2007.54.85
My dad thinks it's a good idea to take all the leaves off the tree and rake up the yard. I think he's crazy.
My dad thinks it's a good idea to take all the leaves off the tree and rake up the yard. I think he's crazy.
Bill Owens
ca. 1972; printed 1998
2007.54.73
I don't like the space walk. It's Saturday morning and I want to see cartoons.
I don't like the space walk. It's Saturday morning and I want to see cartoons.
Bill Owens
ca. 1972; printed 1998
2007.54.42
Photography: Its origins, Its progress, Its transformations
Photography: Its origins, Its progress, Its transformations
Louis Désiré Blanquart-Evrard
1869
2017.61.1.1-20
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
It's a great pleasure to watch yourself make love in the six dozen mirrors that line the ceilings and walls. I've spent a tremendous amount of thought and planning to get the total effect of the bedroom.
It's a great pleasure to watch yourself make love in the six dozen mirrors that line the ceilings and walls. I've spent a tremendous amount of thought and planning to get the total effect of the bedroom.
Bill Owens
ca. 1972; printed 1998
2007.54.36
It's fun to break up the glass. We're doing our thing for ecology and the Boy Scouts will give us a badge for working here.
It's fun to break up the glass. We're doing our thing for ecology and the Boy Scouts will give us a badge for working here.
Bill Owens
ca. 1972; printed 1998
2007.54.95
FULTON. MO. FEBRUARY. FIRST. 1974 FREE THOUGHT; FREE SPEECH; YES" IN THIS DAY, AND AGE" WITH ALL OF OUR CHURCHES; SCHOOLS; AND COLLEDGES." YES, THE MOST SHOKING TRUTH" OF MY WHOLE LIFE IS, THE GREAT MULTITUDE' OF PEOPLE; THAT DONT KNOW A HOLY BIBLE' FROM A' FUNNY PAPER, OR AN ALMANAC; I HAVE TALKED TO A GREAT MANY PEOP-LE. AND JUST AS SOON AS I MENTION THE BIBLE THEY GET GOING; I SAY; SHAME ON YOU, YES, GO HANG YOUR HEAD'IN SHAME". IF YOU CANNOT" FIND'A ROPE; THEN HANG YOUR HEAD IN THE FORK=OF A TREE; MY BIBLE SAYS, QUOTE. AND IF A'KINGDOM BE' DIVIDED AGAINST ITSELF; THAT KINGDOM CANNOT STAND. AND IF A HOUSE BE DIVIDED AGAINST ITSELF THAT HOUSE CANNOT = STAND. AND IF SATAN RISE UP AGAINST HIMSELF, AND BE DIVIDED; HE: CANNOT STAND, BUT HATH AN END.ST= MARK.3=24=25=26. READ ON, AND ON. FREE THOUGHT, FREE SPEECH. YES, THE KINGDOM OF CALLAWAY
FULTON. MO. FEBRUARY. FIRST. 1974 FREE THOUGHT; FREE SPEECH; YES" IN THIS DAY, AND AGE" WITH ALL OF OUR CHURCHES; SCHOOLS; AND COLLEDGES." YES, THE MOST SHOKING TRUTH" OF MY WHOLE LIFE IS, THE GREAT MULTITUDE' OF PEOPLE; THAT DONT KNOW A HOLY BIBLE' FROM A' FUNNY PAPER, OR AN ALMANAC; I HAVE TALKED TO A GREAT MANY PEOP-LE. AND JUST AS SOON AS I MENTION THE BIBLE THEY GET GOING; I SAY; SHAME ON YOU, YES, GO HANG YOUR HEAD'IN SHAME". IF YOU CANNOT" FIND'A ROPE; THEN HANG YOUR HEAD IN THE FORK=OF A TREE; MY BIBLE SAYS, QUOTE. AND IF A'KINGDOM BE' DIVIDED AGAINST ITSELF; THAT KINGDOM CANNOT STAND. AND IF A HOUSE BE DIVIDED AGAINST ITSELF THAT HOUSE CANNOT = STAND. AND IF SATAN RISE UP AGAINST HIMSELF, AND BE DIVIDED; HE: CANNOT STAND, BUT HATH AN END.ST= MARK.3=24=25=26. READ ON, AND ON. FREE THOUGHT, FREE SPEECH. YES, THE KINGDOM OF CALLAWAY
Jesse Howard
1974
2017.17.4
Landscape after a Poem by Du Fu "The Rock Cliff Reveals, After the Clouds Passing by, its Face of Brocade and Embroidery"
Landscape after a Poem by Du Fu "The Rock Cliff Reveals, After the Clouds Passing by, its Face of Brocade and Embroidery"
Dong Qichang 董其昌
1621-1624
86-3/7
It's Always Fair Weather
It's Always Fair Weather
Gordon Hope Grant
ca. 1940
F97-2/55
Calligraphy: The Law of Dao Is Its Being What It Is
Calligraphy: The Law of Dao Is Its Being What It Is
Xu Longsen
2012
2013.46.5