The extraordinary relationship between a man and his dogs comes to life in the art of William Wegman. Wegman’s local exhibition is the subject of a PBS Western Reserve special, WILLIAM WEGMAN: FAY AT THE AKRON ART MUSEUM.

In the special, host Jody Miller talks with Wegman about his artwork and the mutual respect that he and his dogs have for one another. The special also offers highlights of the exhibition’s opening at the Akron Art Museum.

Described as a modern-day Renaissance man, Wegman is a painter, printmaker and conceptual artist, but is best known as the photographer and video artist whose muses are his Weimaraner dogs. Wegman’s exhibition, “William Wegman: Fay,” will continue through Sunday, Aug. 16, 2009 at the Akron Art Museum. It includes 56 black-and-white photographs, large-format Polaroids and chromogenic prints from the artist’s personal collection. In addition, extensive selections from Wegman’s videos featuring Fay are on continuous view in the exhibition.

Wegman’s videos are cutting edge and laugh-out-loud funny, reflecting his wry and deadpan humor. They have been shown on “The David Letterman Show” and “Saturday Night Live” and have been used as a teaching tool, “William Wegman’s Alphabet Soup,” on Sesame Street. The program explores the man behind the camera and the process Wegman used to capture such extraordinary photographs.

Funding for this program is provided by Summa Foundation.

A PBS Western Reserve production, 2009.