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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.

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.

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 number2007.54.86
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
DescriptionMan standing and painting trim on doorway.
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.


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 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
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
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
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
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
Before the dissolution of our marriage my husband and I owned a bar. One day a toilet broke and we brought it home.
Before the dissolution of our marriage my husband and I owned a bar. One day a toilet broke and we brought it home.
Bill Owens
ca. 1972; printed 1998
2007.54.87
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 believe organized sports make better citizens of children. I have four boys and they all play baseball and soccer. They learn to cooperate with others...and that winning isn't always the most important thing to do.
I believe organized sports make better citizens of children. I have four boys and they all play baseball and soccer. They learn to cooperate with others...and that winning isn't always the most important thing to do.
Bill Owens
ca. 1972; printed 1998
2007.54.74
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
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday...and Friday I have my hair done.
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday...and Friday I have my hair done.
Bill Owens
ca. 1972; printed 1998
2007.54.88