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EVIL TWIN PUBLICATIONS
Show Dogs: A Photographic Breed Guide
Edited by Stacy Wakefield. Photographs by Kate Lacey.
The American Kennel Club recognizes over 160 breeds of dogs in seven categories: Hound, Working, Sporting, Non-sporting, Terrier, Toy and Herding. Thousands of Americans own purebred show dogs, and year round, local kennel clubs host events at which judges evaluate how closely individual dogs conform to breed standard. Ribbons and trophies are bestowed and points are accumulated. The ultimate event in a show dog's life is Westminster--held in New York every year since 1877--which attracts hordes of visitors and an international media bonanza. In 2005 Life magazine assigned photographer Kate Lacey to cover Westminster. She decided that instead of documenting the scene, she would rig up a seamless backdrop to make elegant portraits, much as Richard Avedon once captured glamorous celebrities. Though partial to poodle mutt mixes herself, on this assignment Kate became entranced by show dogs, and their exquisite grooming and acclimatization to attention made them ready subjects. After the assignment ended, she continued traveling to dog shows in a quest to photograph every one of the AKC-recognized breeds. Some of the dogs in Show Dogs are veterans of years of shows, some are champions and some are just puppies; but their achievements in the ring are not the point. With each portrait you'll just see the nickname given by the people who love them, not their official championship names, which convey their titles and lineage. The dogs in this book are like supermodels off duty, showing us a personal side in a candid moment. What we love about these dogs is not their fancy parentage and titles, but exactly what we love about every dog in our lives; their quirky and wonderful dogginess.
For anyone who has ever wanted, owned or loved a dog--ever--we are pleased to announce Kate Lacey's remarkable Show Dogs,, which features portraits of members of all 160 American Kennel Club-acknowledged breeds. This is a breed guide well suited for the age of visual information; it is a colorful, uniquely bound book that captures the personality of each of these widely varied dogs. It’s a book that you will want to give to every dog fanatic you know, suitable for your toddler as well as your in-laws in Connecticut. As publisher Stacy Wakefield describes, "Accompanying the portraits are the nicknames [the dogs] are called by the people who love them, not their official championship names…The dogs in this book are like supermodels off duty, showing us a personal side in a candid moment." Featured photograph is of Stache, a Miniature Bull Terrier from the Terriers category.
In 2005 Life magazine assigned photographer Kate Lacey to cover Westminster. She decided that instead of walking around Madison Square Garden documenting the scene, she would rig up a seamless backdrop to make elegant portraits, much as Richard Avedon once captured glamorous celebrities. Though partial to poodle-mutt mixes herself, on this assignment Kate became entranced by show dogs. Their exquisite grooming and acclimatization to attention made them ready subjects. And within the circumscribed limits of each breed’s conformity, Kate found in every dog she met a thrilling depth of individuality--her lucid portraits shimmer with personality. After the assignment ended, she continued traveling to dog shows in a quest to photograph every one of the AKC-recognized breeds. Some of the dogs in this book are veterans of years of shows and some are just puppies; but their achievements in the ring are not the point here… What we love about these dogs is not their fancy parentage and titles, but exactly what we love about every dog in our lives: their quirky and wonderful dogginess.
Evil Twin Publisher Stacy Wakefield, excerpted her Preface to Show Dogs.
Stacy Wakefield's graphic design resume includes stints at Artforum and index magazines, and piles of art books for companies like Vice and Metropolis. She has been producing zines and artists' books under the name Evil Twin Publications since 1994. Evil Twin's most recent release is Show Dogs continue to blog
With its vibrant color backdrops and its flurry of wet-nosed friends, Show Dogs is a playful book that would make any dog lover BARK with excitement at each turn of the page! Kate Lacey, the photographer of Show Dogs, studied photography at Sarah Lawrence College and now lives in Brooklyn. Show Dogs is her first book, although she has also worked for dozens of publications including Artforum, Bust, InStyle, Life, Make, Nylon, People, ReadyMade and The New York Times. continue to blog
FORMAT: Hbk, 6.25 x 9 in. / 112 pgs / 168 color. LIST PRICE: U.S. $16.95 LIST PRICE: CANADA $24 GBP £14.99 ISBN: 9780976335535 PUBLISHER: Evil Twin Publications AVAILABLE: 10/31/2010 DISTRIBUTION: D.A.P. RETAILER DISC: TRADE PUBLISHING STATUS: Out of print AVAILABILITY: Not available TERRITORY: WORLD
Published by Evil Twin Publications. Edited by Stacy Wakefield. Photographs by Kate Lacey.
The American Kennel Club recognizes over 160 breeds of dogs in seven categories: Hound, Working, Sporting, Non-sporting, Terrier, Toy and Herding. Thousands of Americans own purebred show dogs, and year round, local kennel clubs host events at which judges evaluate how closely individual dogs conform to breed standard. Ribbons and trophies are bestowed and points are accumulated. The ultimate event in a show dog's life is Westminster--held in New York every year since 1877--which attracts hordes of visitors and an international media bonanza. In 2005 Life magazine assigned photographer Kate Lacey to cover Westminster. She decided that instead of documenting the scene, she would rig up a seamless backdrop to make elegant portraits, much as Richard Avedon once captured glamorous celebrities. Though partial to poodle mutt mixes herself, on this assignment Kate became entranced by show dogs, and their exquisite grooming and acclimatization to attention made them ready subjects. After the assignment ended, she continued traveling to dog shows in a quest to photograph every one of the AKC-recognized breeds. Some of the dogs in Show Dogs are veterans of years of shows, some are champions and some are just puppies; but their achievements in the ring are not the point. With each portrait you'll just see the nickname given by the people who love them, not their official championship names, which convey their titles and lineage. The dogs in this book are like supermodels off duty, showing us a personal side in a candid moment. What we love about these dogs is not their fancy parentage and titles, but exactly what we love about every dog in our lives; their quirky and wonderful dogginess.
