Bill Owens

American

1938, San Jose, California

Bill Owens

Works in the Collection

"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

"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."

1971, printed 1977
Vacation Bible School, Livermore, CA

Bill Owens

Vacation Bible School, Livermore, CA

1968
"I wanted Christina to learn some responsibility for cleaning her room, but it didn't work." From the series Suburbia

Bill Owens

"I wanted Christina to learn some responsibility for cleaning her room, but it didn't work." From the series Suburbia

1970, printed 1977
"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." From the series Suburbia

Bill Owens

"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." From the series Suburbia

1971
"I was a lawyer before I became a private detective. This is a more interesting way to make a living. I've been in business for more than twenty years now and have worked on just about every case imaginable," from the series Working (I Do It For The Money)

Bill Owens

"I was a lawyer before I became a private detective. This is a more interesting way to make a living. I've been in business for more than twenty years now and have worked on just about every case imaginable," from the series Working (I Do It For The Money)

1975
Untitled [Ice cream man—"Debbie's 447-7660"], from the series Working (I Do It For The Money)

Bill Owens

Untitled, from the series Working (I Do It For The Money)

1975
O-55 World Savings Opening Day, from the series Working (I Do It For The Money)

Bill Owens

World Savings Opening Day, from the series Working (I Do It For The Money)

1975
"I've been a chiropractor for thirty-three years, working directly and indirectly with nerves through the spinal column. I'm thinking of retiring in a couple more years and going into worm farming. Worms are an asset to society." From the series Working (I Do It For The Money)

Bill Owens

"I've been a chiropractor for thirty-three years, working directly and indirectly with nerves through the spinal column. I'm thinking of retiring in a couple more years and going into worm farming. Worms are an asset to society." From the series Working (I Do It For The Money)

1976, printed 1977
BO ca. 1970

Bill Owens

"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." From the series Suburbia

ca. 1970
"The Companions of the Forest of America teaches devotion to the home, respect for other people's religious beliefs, loyalty to the American flag and obedience to God's commandments. Our motto is "Sociability, Sincerity and Constancy." Many good and lasting friendships are formed through membership in the Companions of the Forest of America." From the series Our Kind of People

Bill Owens

"The Companions of the Forest of America teaches devotion to the home, respect for other people's religious beliefs, loyalty to the American flag and obedience to God's commandments. Our motto is "Sociability, Sincerity and Constancy." Many good and lasting friendships are formed through membership in the Companions of the Forest of America." From the series Our Kind of People

1973, printed 1977
"My dream is to be an airline stewardess, but I'm not old enough. In the meantime I operate a pneumatic tie-wrap gun and make harnesses for electronic pong games. I can’t wait until I turn twenty-one." From the series Working (I do it for the Money)

Bill Owens

"My dream is to be an airline stewardess, but I'm not old enough. In the meantime I operate a pneumatic tie-wrap gun and make harnesses for electronic pong games. I can’t wait until I turn twenty-one." From the series Working (I do it for the Money)

1976, printed 1977
"I'm a new-realist painter. People think it's glamorous to paint but it's just hard work. Each painting takes two to four months to complete. The possibility of getting national acclaim is almost nil." From the series Working (I Do It For The Money)

Bill Owens

"I'm a new-realist painter. People think it's glamorous to paint but it's just hard work. Each painting takes two to four months to complete. The possibility of getting national acclaim is almost nil." From the series Working (I Do It For The Money)

1975
"I enjoy giving a Tupperware party in my home. It gives me a chance to talk to my friends. But really, Tupperware is a homemaker's dream, you save time and money because your food keeps longer." From the series Suburbia

Bill Owens

"I enjoy giving a Tupperware party in my home. It gives me a chance to talk to my friends. But really, Tupperware is a homemaker's dream, you save time and money because your food keeps longer." From the series Suburbia

1968-1970
"This is our second annual Fourth of July block party. This year thirty-three families came for beer, barbequed chicken, corn on the cob, potato salad, green salad, macaroni salad and watermelon." From the series Suburbia

Bill Owens

"This is our second annual Fourth of July block party. This year thirty-three families came for beer, barbequed chicken, corn on the cob, potato salad, green salad, macaroni salad and watermelon." From the series Suburbia

ca. 1970
Our kind of people

Bill Owens

Our kind of people

ca. 1973
"Sunday afternoon we get-it-together. I drink some beer, cook the steaks, and my wife makes the salad.”

Bill Owens

"Sunday afternoon we get-it-together. I drink some beer, cook the steaks, and my wife makes the salad." From the series Suburbia

1968-1970, printed 1972
"We're really happy. Our kids are healthy, we eat good food and we have a really nice home." From the series Suburbia

Bill Owens

"We're really happy. Our kids are healthy, we eat good food and we have a really nice home." From the series Suburbia

1971
Tidy Bowl, Walnut Creek

Bill Owens

Tidy Bowl, Walnut Creek

1979

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