Mrs. Ballard's Parrots (Hardcover)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

It's difficult to determine what makes these snapshots of elaborately costumed parrots so weird. Is it that Long Island housewife Alba Ballard (1928-1994) felt compelled to spend years dressing up her feathered friends, or that the images are so curiously captivating? With the help of her husband, Marvin, Ballard designed costumes of celebrities and historical figures to place on her docile parrots, posing them at miniature tables and against painted backdrops. Some might find this disturbing, while others-like David Letterman, who had her on his show multiple times, and Woody Allen, who gave her a bit part in Broadway Danny Rose-will be heartily amused. When Ballard died, all that remained of her unusual hobby was a box full of photos discovered amid old fan mail addressed to Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor. Through Taylor's daughter, Liza, the photos eventually found their way to New York photographer Svenson, a collector of "unique and odd" images. Readers who share Svenson's thirst for the bizarre will find these eccentric tableaus amusing. The photos, which are accompanied by headers hand-written by Ballard, feature parrots posing as wounded soldiers, impersonating Batman and Robin, and filling the famed shoes of Dean Martin (appropriately, a bevy of gorgeous Barbie dolls loiter in the background). Dressed and posed mannequin-like, the parrots seem to take their roles as models seriously, and their passive, expressionless countenances are the key to the absurdity of these pictures.
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Product Description

"When I'm really old and can't use myself anymore, this is what I'll be doing." -Cindy Sherman

"Not only was I enthralled with Mrs. Ballard's Parrots, I was slightly jealous that these creatures had a better sense of style than me." -Isaac Mizrahi

In the late 1960s, Long Island housewife Alba Ballard decided to sew a little outfit for one of her many pet parrots. Soon she began staging elaborate productions, casting her lavishly costumed birds in scenes from popular movies, TV shows, and historical events-all preserved in photographs by Alba and her husband. One minute, parrots were tiny, winged incarnations of such luminaries as Sonny and Cher and General George Patton; another, yellow and green macaws in leather jackets rode on miniature motorcycles reenacting scenes from Easy Rider. Word of Alba's quirky creations spread, and with her feathered cast she eventually appeared on Late Night with David Letterman, Saturday Night Live, and even in Woody Allen's film Broadway Danny Rose.

In 1992 a small collection of her photographs turned up in the Swiss home of Elizabeth Taylor, and they soon reached the hands of Arne Svenson. Although Alba died in 1994, her fantasy world lives on in these pictures-a bizarre yet endearing mix of artistry, kitsch, and humor-which form the heart of this irresistible book. AUTHOR BIO: Arne Svenson is a New York-based photographer whose work has been shown extensively in the United States and Europe. He is the author of Prisoners and Sock Monkeys.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 96 pages
• Publisher: Harry N. Abrams (April 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810958864
• ISBN-13: 978-0810958869
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #690,076 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just knowing this book exists makes the world a better place, March 23, 2005

By	Sarah Dixie Laite (NEW YORK, NY USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Alba Ballard was the kind of woman who dressed her various parrots in outfits (astronaut, Batman and Robin) and put them in little scenes (Easy Rider, cowboy saloon) and then photographed or filmed them. In otehr words, Alba Ballard was a GENIUS!

Combining her love of birds, theatre and pop culture. she created tableaux that would likely fetch kajillions of dollars and make her the darling of the art world today, but back in the 50s and 60s primarily only garnered her scorn and weird looks. Alba's story is fascinating, funny, and frankly inspirational and touching. Just imagining Mrs. Ballard in her Long Island home, late at night, arranging her parrots in a faux bedroom with little overturned champagne glasses is enough to make one dazzled by the human spirit -- and the forebearance of her parrots! (As a parrot owner myself, I can't imagine trying to get any of my birds in one of these get-ups without losing a finger.)

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Birds scare me., March 28, 2005

By	E. Michelle Cromer (El Paso, Texas) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

But when I saw them dressed as Sonny, Cher, General Patton, Liberace, and/or Little Red Riding Hood I screamed all right, of absolute laughter. Arne Svenson's wonderfully respectful book on Alba Ballard is a view into the world of a unique artist who used her pet birds as the protagonists in fantastic surreal tableaus based on 1970's movie and TV scenes, historical occurances, and fairytales. The photos walk a fine line between humor and pathos and offer somewhat satirical, and I am sure intended, comment on the culture of the time.

I am certain that when Mrs. Ballard created these images she was looked upon as a "bit odd" and perhaps even laughed at. I mean, let's get real, she was a housewife in Long Island who designed and created tiny bird costumes, velcroed them onto her pet parrots and made them run around miniature stages while her husband snapped the camera. Not exactly your typical neighborhood gal. However, with this marvelous volume, I think that Mrs. B is having the last laugh. Buy this book, and you will laugh along with her.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The real thing!, September 10, 2005

By	P. Green - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Mrs. Ballard is truly gifted! As an artist, I am impressed with her obsessive devotion to her wacky vision and to producing her costumes and sets. As the owner of two parrots, I am amazed at her ability to enlist their cooperation in her endeavour. We have owned Zeppo, a Mexican Red Head, for almost thirty years, and I can't even get him to wear a hat.