Fay - Hardcover

To a dog owner, each canine's personality is as uniquely defined as a human's. William Wegman knows this as well as or better than anyone. An artist best known for his photos of Weimaraner dogs, Wegman's work in the early '80s centered on his dog Man Ray. As Fay begins, Man Ray has died, and Wegman is resistant to the idea of replacing the irreplaceable Man Ray, named the Village Voice's "Man of the Year" in 1982.

When a fan of the artist meets him a few years later and invites him to choose a puppy from a litter of prize Weimaraners, Wegman is introduced to 6-month-old Fay, who immediately bewitches him with "the eyes of a jungle cat." Thus begins the story of Wegman's connection with the charming, shy, elegant Fay. Initially reluctant to feature her in his work, Wegman is content just to have a pet. But as he watches Fay's character develop into something quite different from Man Ray's, he finally decides to capture her personality in a photo shoot... then another... and another... until the two have developed a unique relationship on camera as well as off.

The book contains many striking photographs of Fay in anthropomorphic poses, as well as in several dresses and wigs--the result is sometimes humorous, sometimes seductive, but always hauntingly human and animal at the same time. Later photos feature Fay's pups Batty, Crooky, and Chundo as well. Pictures from a London Times photo spread feature the velvety dogs draped in diamond jewelry; photos from a Cinderella video incorporate the family into the cast, including Fay as the wicked stepmother and the fairy godmother; and stills from a Hardy Boys-type movie star (who else?) the Weimaraners.

Wegman and Fay's relationship is obviously an involved one--not just between a man and his dog, but an artist and his subject. And it is one that is lovingly captured in Fay's photos and story: here is a dog with a depth of personality equal to a human's, and a dignity and vulnerability expertly caught on film by one of our most original artists.--Kris Law

Just when Wegman seems to have stretched his weimaraner art pretty thinAwhat with his Fay's Fairy Tales series and concept books published for young readers, videos and merchandiseAcomes 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 Reed Business Information, Inc.