Included in a recent trip to Washington DC, I toured many of the Federal Buildings, which btw, require several months of planning to gain access into.
Highlighted in my recent blog post Part 1, dated February 9, 2018 I shared images of the Capital Building, as I toured that first upon arrival into D.C.
With much anticipation and little sleep, it was finally my time; to be an outsider on the in of, The White House.
As we know, The White House is both the home of the President of the United States and his (hopefully Ms. President in my lifetime) family, and stands as a museum of American history.
There are 132 rooms, 35 bathrooms, and 6 levels in the Residence. There are also 412 doors, 147 windows, 28 fireplaces, 8 staircases, and 3 elevators.
-The White House kitchen is able to serve dinner to as many as 140 guests and hors d’oeuvres to more than 1,000.
-The White House requires 570 gallons of paint to cover its outside surface.
-At various times in history, the White House has been known as the “President’s Palace,” the “President’s House,” and the “Executive Mansion.”
-President Theodore Roosevelt officially gave the White House its current name in 1901.
Our first president, George Washington, selected the site for the White House in 1791. The cornerstone was laid in 1792 and a competition design submitted by Irish-born architect James Hoban was chosen.
In 1902, President Theodore Roosevelt began a major renovation of the White House, including the relocation of the president’s offices from the Second Floor of the Residence to the newly constructed temporary Executive Office Building (now known as the West Wing). President William Howard Taft, had the Oval Office constructed within an enlarged office wing.
Typically any portraits within most Federal buildings, including those of former presidents painted, (as in the National Portrait Gallery) are conventional, such as this Nancy Reagan portrait. I believe that the Obama portraits exemplify new media and exhibit a new and dramatic unconventional approach, allowing the viewer to read and interpret more about the figures set within the paintings. They are shown as people, not solely as just a portrait, allowing the viewer to read into them.
And now that these recent official Obama portraits have been made public (look under Outside the Studio to view) are you aware that several presidents themselves have painted for fun & profit?
I'm sure you've seen some of George W. Bush's artistic side revealed earlier last year? Yes, artwork, as in a whole bunch of paintings! The former Commander in Chief’s Tribute to America’s Warriors paintings were exhibited in New York and can be found within the pages of "Portraits of Courage".
Just announced, these paintings will now be on exhibit July 21 through September 30, 2018 at the Witte Museum in San Antonio, Texas, one of four places that will host the show this year. The work grew out of President George W. Bush’s personal commitment and the ongoing work of the Bush Institute’s Military Service Initiative. "Portraits of Courage" brings together sixty-six full-color portraits and a four-panel mural painted by President Bush of 98 service members and veterans who have served…
There have been other presidents recognized for their art such as Ulysses S. Grant, Dwight Eisenhower and Jimmy Carter, with my contributions here:
Until next week, God Bless! -Janice
