Paintings by former president George W. Bush will be the very first exhibit at the Reach, the Kennedy Center’s brand new arts space.
“Portraits of Courage,” a collection of 66 oil paintings of military veterans, will be displayed this fall from October 7 to November 15 at the Reach following a 16-day inaugural festival for the venue in September.
Bush’s paintings have been on a North American tour since last year, with previous stops in Ottawa, San Antonio, and Palm Beach, Florida. In a press release, Kennedy Center President Deborah F. Rutter said that Bush’s artwork will be a “fitting first exhibition” for the Reach.
“The Kennedy Center is proud to share these works—painted by a living president—that honor the men and women who defend our freedom to explore, celebrate, and create art,” Rutter said. “This collection, arriving at the REACH on the heels of its public opening in September, showcases the versatility of the space, inviting patrons and tourists to experience the new expansion for the first time.”
Bush’s artwork has received a fair amount of public attention in the past. In 2013, a Romanian hacker named Guccifer stole a trove of personal data from the Bush family, and leaked two unfinished self-portraits depicting the former president bathing.
While some of Bush’s earlier work, like his expansive collection of dog paintings, have been mocked by the media, “Portraits of Courage” has received favorable reviews from several major newspapers. In a 2017 review, the New York Times described Bush’s paintings as “haunting” work from an “evocative and surprisingly adept artist who has dramatically improved his technique.”
But other critics have pointed out the inescapable irony of a president paying artistic tribute to the same members of the military that he sent to war in Iraq and Afghanistan.
“Portraits of Courage” emerged from Bush’s ongoing work with veterans through the Military Service Initiative, an organization that helps members of the military transition back into civilian life, according to the website for the George W. Bush Presidential Center.
The collection has also been turned into a hardcover book that includes stories of the veterans depicted in each painting written by the former president himself.
The Reach is a three-building, 72,000 square-foot addition to the Kennedy Center that is made of various rehearsal and performance spaces. The new space marks the Kennedy Center’s first major expansion since it opened its doors to the public in 1971. The venue’s opening in the fall comes two years later than projected, and with a price tag $100 million over budget.
The “Portraits of Courage” exhibit will be on display from October 7 to November 15 in Studio K at the Reach. FREE timed-entry tickets available starting September 3.
