Currents | Books: In ‘Chewed,’ Dog Toys Loved to Pieces

Arne Svenson and Ron Warren’s 2002 book, “Sock Monkeys,” effectively elevated the status of a easy toy, showcasing 200 portraits of sock monkeys. Their new book aims to do the same thing for dog toys.

“Chewed” (Ideal World Books, $24.95) features 140 color photographs taken by Mr. Svenson of lovingly destroyed canine playthings. There was just one criterion: every item had to have — or have had — a face.

“They still have personalities, despite being transformed by the dog,” stated Mr. Warren, who is the director of and a partner in Mary Boone Gallery. (There were a few exceptions, like a plastic hot dog and a shoe, Mr. Svenson said, but all the items were things that were loved but had been discarded. “And they had such importance at one time,” he added.)

Neither Mr. Svenson nor Mr. Warren have dogs, so the toys were contributed by friends like William Wegman (a bear that belonged to his first dog, Man Ray, and now has more duct tape than fur) and Todd Oldham (whose dog Ann “takes the eyes off everything,” Mr. Svenson said). The book also includes essays and stories by Isaac Mizrahi, Roz Chast, Augusten Burroughs, Maira Kalman and others. Information: chewedbook.com.

More source:

In 'Chewed,' Dog Toys Loved to Pieces - NYTimes.com
Arne Svenson: Chewed Pet Toys And Their Hilarious, Invented ...
"Chewed" Book: Features Unique Photos of Well-Loved Pet Toys
'Chewed': Much-Loved Dog Toys in Pictures - Vetstreet

Random News

• Garden Journals Made Easy
• Expert: Divorce won’t help your credit score
• Home Affordability Reaches Highest Level in 20 Years
• Take these steps to improve finances in 2012
• At More Mobile-Home Parks, a Greater Sense of Security
• Foreclosure flood may not have crested yet
• Bark for Winter Interest
• The Lincoln Lawyer is back - and fighting foreclosures
• Regional UK Property Prices 'Grow Faster Than London'
• Soaring market boosts retirement accounts

Details :
Submited at Friday, September 30th, 2011 at 1:00 am on House by samantha
Comment RSS 2.0 - leave a comment - trackback