Fay

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

Just when Wegman seems to have stretched his weimaraner art pretty thin--what with his Fay's Fairy Tales series and concept books published for young readers, videos and merchandise--comes a disarming book to remind everyone of the wit and offhand originality that put Wegman on the map in the first place. This chronicle of his famous dog Fay Ray, who died in 1995, is also an exploration of the art she inspired, not only specific photographs but motifs, themes and techniques that he developed in working with her. It is also almost always funny, as Wegman manages to convey his love for his dogs and his work without ever taking himself too seriously or falling into jargon. When two of her puppies joined Fay in the studio, for example, Fay "added stern to her portfolio of manners. Greta Garbo cross-fading with Joan Crawford." Readers don't need to have dogs to understand and appreciate his handling of Fay: "[Dogs] will go along with just about anything you do as long as it keeps them in the game," he explains. Technical discussions stay light and pertinent; trained as a painter, Wegman identifies himself as "a resident alien in the world of photography," and he retains an outsider's ability to characterize his observations simply. The generous supply of color photographs and stills attracts the reader's attention; the deadpan intelligence of the text holds it. (Oct.) Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.

Children's Literature - Kristin Harris

William Wegman is a very prolific artist who has become most well known for his artwork of his dogs. This volume is about his life and work with the Weimaraner Fay Ray. After the death of the first dog he photographed extensively, Man Ray, Wegman vowed no more dogs. However, Cinnamon Girl came into his life and transposed into the elegant beauty Fay Ray. She was photographed and videotaped for museum exhibits, books and segments for Nickelodeon, Saturday Night Live and the film The Hardly Boys in Hardly Gold. This is a wonderful look at not only the artist process, but also an intimate relationship between a man and an animal. This is a coffee table book with numerous photographs, many quite comical. Fay is seen dressed up in clothes and contorted in any number of silly positions. Children will enjoy the photographs.