The all-new special exhibit features paintings by President George W. Bush in his latest medium as an artist, cold wax.
DALLAS — The George W. Bush Presidential Center announced today that it will open an all-new special exhibit at the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum on April 4, 2022, featuring approximately 35 new works by President George W. Bush.
The artwork, including cold wax renditions of floral arrangements, bird species, landscapes, and more, will be on display in Freedom Hall at the Bush Center through September 25, 2022. This unique, colorful collection is the fourth exhibition of President Bush’s artwork that the Bush Center has hosted.
Cold wax is a material that can be mixed with oil colors to create artwork with unique effects, including luminosity. It’s made from beeswax, resin, and solvent, and it doesn’t require heat to use.
The process starts out by mixing cold wax with oil paints to create a layered original work on paper. Then, President Bush often employs a unique technique to create mirror images using this medium. Once the painting is complete, but before the work dries, he places a clean sheet of paper over the new painting and uses a roller to imprint the top sheet onto the bottom sheet. Once separated, the original bottom sheet is largely left in its original condition while the new top sheet is imprinted with a replica of the original. At times, President Bush may further embellish the works with additional paint.
Admission to view Waxing Poetic: Expressions with Cold Wax is included with the purchase of a ticket to visit the Bush Center’s permanent exhibit, which includes steel from the World Trade Center and a full-scale replica of the Oval Office. Tickets also include access to “Liberty & Laughter: The Lighter Side of the White House,” a special exhibit open through December 31, 2022.
Invited media are welcome to visit the new exhibit for a first look the morning of April 4. Media should apply for credentials at bushcenter.org/credentials by Thursday, March 31, at 5 p.m. CT. The Bush Center’s special exhibit, Liberty & Laughter: The Lighter Site of the White House, will also be on display for media to view. Follow-up instructions, including parking, security sweep arrival time, and more information, will be sent to credentialed media when registration is closed.
Images of artwork are available upon request. For more information, contact Kinsey Clemmer at kclemmer@bushcenter.org or visit www.bushcenter.org/exhibits-and-events/exhibits/2022/waxing-poetic-expressions-with-cold-wax.html.
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About the George W. Bush Presidential Center
Rooted in the guiding principles of President George W. Bush and Mrs. Laura Bush, the George W. Bush Presidential Center engages communities in the United States and around the world by developing leaders, advancing policy, and taking action to solve today’s most pressing challenges. Through three Impact Centers – Domestic Excellence, Global Leadership, and an Engagement Agenda – the Bush Institute delivers measurable results that save and improve lives. The Bush Center is home to the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum, which is operated by the National Archives and Records Administration, and the George W. Bush Institute, the nonpartisan, public-policy arm of the Bush Center. The Bush Center is located on the campus of SMU in Dallas, Texas, and also includes a 15-acre park; Café 43, a full-service restaurant; and a Museum Store.
