Dozens of paintings by former US President George W. Bush will go on display at a fundraising exhibition for St. Ann's Episcopal Church in Maine next month.
Bush's family, who have a summer home near the church, have attended services there for generations.
Opened in 1892, the stone chapel sits on the coast at 167 Ocean Avenue and offers sweeping views of the Atlantic. It is a part of the National Register of Historic Places.
According to Senior Warden Paul Henderson, funds raised by the exhibit will be used toward repairing damage caused to the chapel and its property by the two forceful storms that happened within days of each other in January of 2024.
“We had millions of dollars’ worth of damage to our sea walls and our property,” Henderson said during an interview on July 27. “We’ve done a lot of the repair work over the last 18 months, but there’s more work to be done.”
The church has been raising funds towards that effort for two years now, through its “Preserving a Legacy” Capital Campaign, Henderson said. In addition to repairing damages, the campaign also focuses on protecting the chapel and property against future weather events.
Tickets cost $10 per person, though children younger than 11 years old will be admitted for free. Tours are scheduled in half-hour increments, so people are encouraged to buy tickets in advance, Henderson said. Tickets can be purchased online at https://bit.ly/bushartexhibition.
Henderson expressed gratitude to Bush for helping the church. He said the fundraising exhibit was Bush’s idea.
“The president is generously offering a lot of his time and talents,” Henderson noted.
St. Ann's Church: Paintings reflect Bush's values of faith, family
Bush, who turned 80 earlier this month, first picked up the paintbrush in 2012, after his second term as President of the United States ended three years earlier. He has named Winston Churchill’s essay, “Painting as a Pastime,” as an early inspiration for his creativity, which gives opportunities to “think critically, reflect, and continue to learn,” the church noted in a press release.
Bush, who has published books of his works, enjoys painting portraits, especially of veterans and immigrants, as well as various settings. His exhibit on Aug. 6 will feature works depicting life at St. Ann’s and in Kennebunkport, according to Henderson. Bush painted many of the works at his home in Kennebunkport, Henderson said.
“President Bush’s works are personal, introspective, at times humorous, and often layered with spiritual resonance and thoughtful inquiry,” the church stated. “They consistently reflect the values most important to him: faith, family, freedom, and community.”
This art exhibit will provide a glimpse into Bush’s studio practice and the creative life.
St. Ann’s Episcopal Church is open from mid-June through September and is a place for services, weddings, concerts, and, with its architecture, gardens, and view of the ocean and the Kennebunk River, sightseeing.
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