Skip to main content
Published ReferencesBill Owens, Suburbia, Straight Arrow Press, 1973
DimensionsSheet: 8 × 10 in. (20.3 × 25.4 cm)
Image: 6 1/8 × 8 in. (15.6 × 20.3 cm)
Accession Number 2022.57
Classificationsphotograph
SignedBill Owens (verso l,r graphite)
Inscriptions89 BO-1303M 1500 (verso l,l graphite)
Portfolio/Series"Suburbia" series
Marks© BILL OWENS EXTRA BOOK PRINT (verso l,r black ink stamp)
ProvenanceDr. Steven and Yasemin Miller, Salt Lake City; Des Moines Art Center [gift from the previous, 2022]
Dining table with desserts, Tri-Valley area, Northern California, from the "Suburbia" series
Photo Credit: Rich Sanders, Des Moines
Photo Credit: Rich Sanders, Des Moines
Photo Credit: Rich Sanders, Des Moines
Decorating the House for Christmas, Tri-Valley Area, Northern California, from the "Suburbia" series
Bill Owens
1969-1975, printed 1999
Photo Credit: Rich Sanders, Des Moines
Elephant trainer, Tri-Valley area, Northern California, from the series "Working"
Bill Owens
1974-1976
Photo Credit: Rich Sanders, Des Moines
Forks and checks, Tri-Valley area, Northern California, from the "Leisure" series
Bill Owens
ca. 1975, printed later
Photo Credit: Rich Sanders, Des Moines
Hornets football, Tri-Valley area, Northern California, from the "Leisure" series
Bill Owens
ca. 1975, printed later
Photo Credit: Rich Sanders, Des Moines
Pinball machine repairman, Tri-Valley area, Northern California, from the "Working" series
Bill Owens
1974-1976, printed 2006
Photo Credit: Rich Sanders, Des Moines
House and tidy lawn, Livermore, California, from the "Suburbia" series
Bill Owens
c. 1970, printed 2002
Photo Credit: Rich Sanders, Des Moines
If Bank of America knew the truth . . ., from the "Suburbia" series
Bill Owens
1971, printed 1999
Photo Credit: Rich Sanders, Des Moines
The Jaycees. really know how to have fun., from the "Suburbia" series
Bill Owens
1971, printed 2000
Photo Credit: Rich Sanders, Des Moines
Untitled (Woman vacuuming), from the "Suburbia" series
Bill Owens
1971, printed 1999
Photo Credit: Rich Sanders, Des Moines
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. By playing with guns he learns to socialize with other children. I find the neighbors who are offended by Richie's gun, either the father hunts or their kids are the first to take Richie's gun and go off and play with it., from the "Suburbia" series
Bill Owens
1971, printed 2000
Photo Credit: Rich Sanders, Des Moines
Everywhere we go we challenge the local high school team to a game. We let them win. It’s all for charity. Points don’t count unless you shoot from the back of the donkey. Donkeys are dumb and uncooperative, and they really hate to move. Livermore, California, from the "Leisure" series
Bill Owens
1976, printed 1999
Photo Credit: Rich Sanders, Des Moines
Being a broker is the old "buy'em low, sell 'em high game. After the one o'clock bell, brokers have fifteen minutes to close their market orders. This is done by shouting your bids and positioning your hands. Palms out means sell, palms in means buy. I can assure you it's a fun game to win. San Francisco, California, from the "Working" series
Bill Owens
1976, printed 2006