Tag Archives: Bill Clinton

Sculpture Vulture: Bill Clinton

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Tomorrow is not President’s Day, it is Washington’s Birthday.  But in honor of the only Arkansan to succeed Washington as President, today’s Sculpture Vulture highlights the bust of William Jefferson Clinton which is on the grounds of the Arkansas Governor’s Mansion.

The bust was commissioned in 1994 by the Little Rock Advertising and Promotion Commission.  It had originally been intended as more of a plaque featuring Clinton’s face. But sculptor Jan Woods, who had been selected to create the art, suggested turning it into a bust.  A bust does look more statesman-like and appropriate for the intention of honoring the only resident of the Governor’s Mansion who has also lived in the White House.

Woods created a very life-like, realistic depiction of Bill Clinton.  She captures the slight smile and intense gaze of his face which is part of what creates the feeling of empathy and personal connection even his harshest critics agree he possesses.  Unlike the JFK bust in the Kennedy Center which is abstract or the lifeless gazes so often found in busts and statues of earlier presidents, this bust captures the essence of the man.

The bust sits on the front lawn of the Arkansas Governor’s Mansion to the west of the main gate.  Even when the grounds are closed, it is visible to the public through the fence.

Arts & Humanities Month: Clinton Presidential Center

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The William J. Clinton Presidential Center offers visitors a variety of permanent and temporary exhibits, lectures, the official archives of the Clinton presidency, special events and a restaurant.

The facility consists of 20,000 square feet of exhibit space, including a White House Cabinet Room reconstruction and a full-scale replica of the Oval Office. The permanent exhibits are divided into the following areas: the Campaign, Inauguration, the Vice President, White House at Work, Life in the White House, and the Work Continues.  There is also a film produced by award-winning filmmaker Harry Thomason which introduces visitors to Clinton and the Clinton Library.  (As hard as it is to believe, there are now voters who were born during the Clinton White House years.)

LEGO Clinton Library

Currently the temporary exhibit “Nathan Sawaya’s Art of the Brick” features a variety of structures that this lawyer-turned-artist has created out of LEGOs.

LEGO Clinton portrait

The Clinton President Center is open for exhibits from 9am to 5pm on Monday through Saturday and from 1pm to 5pm on Sunday.  Prices range from $3 to $7 with active US military and children under 6 admitted for free.

Forty-Two is the restaurant at the Clinton Presidential Center.  It is open from 11am to 2pm seven days a week.  Lunch is served Mondays through Saturdays with a brunch served on Sunday.  Forty-Two also offers special events such as cooking demonstrations, kids chef camps, and Around the World Thursdays one night each month.

LEGO Clinton Museum Store

The Clinton Museum Store is located down the street from the Clinton Presidential Center. It is open Monday through Saturday from 10am to 5:30pm, and Sunday from 2pm to 5:30pm. It is the official gift shop of the Clinton Presidential Center.  (Federal law prohibits the sale of merchandise on National Archives property.)  It features a variety of merchandise celebrating not only the Clinton presidency, but also politics, political parties (Democrat and Republican), and issues which are important to Bill Clinton.