USC is no stranger to big name speakers. First we hired esteemed General Petraeus to come talk for about a week or so, then we nabbed former Mayor Villaraigosa and now USC has struck gold again with one of the best American presidents of the 21st century, George W. Bush. No, Bush is not joining USC as a professor (although his track record suggests he might want to take a look at the open Associate Professor positions at the Roski School of Fine Arts), but LA Weekly has obtained an email from USC College Republicans’ secretary Lisa Ebiner Gavit where she invites students to sign up for an event on November 18.

Here’s the email that apparently people aren’t supposed to share:

I have some exciting information to share, but it needs to be kept confidential until further notice. The USC College Republicans have been offered a special invitation to attend an event with former president George W. Bush. He is coming to USC on November 18. 

If you are a current student who wants to attend, then please send us your 10 digit USC id and your preferred email address. George Bush's people will be sending you a personalized email invitation to the event. We need your USC id because only current students will be invited (sorry alums!!). And again, please do not share this info with any other students yet.

We’ve reached out to Ebiner Gavit for more information and to confirm the validity of the email. LA Weekly does not provide more information about what Bush will talk about, but we really hope he has some harsh words for that Banksy jerk and other insights into Bush’s foray into painting. 

Most of us are familiar with Bush’s work as a president - mostly war, weapons and beating John Kerry, but what people don’t know as much about is Bush’s life after the White House. 

So with just two weeks until Bush gets to campus, it’s time to familiarize yourself with Bush’s maturation as a painter.

1. The Shower Period

Bush broke into the art scene when hacker Guccifer got into Bush’s email and released these self portraits to the world. Was this nice of Guccifer? No, probably not. Am I happy I get to see Bush’s brilliance? Yes.

A former intimidating president naked and alone in a moment of self reflection? Amazing. His reflection staring back from the mirror but not following his actual gaze? Pure art. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. The Dog Period

Bush painted more than 50 dogs during the longest period of his painting career. Check out this little guy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. Still Life and Landscape Period

Here’s where Bush came into his own as an artist. Drawing obvious inspiration from the Hudson River School of American art, Bush is nothing if not a modern Thomas Cole. Bush dynamically and seamlessly maneuvers between the complexity of a landscape and the simplistic elegance of a table of grapes. Magic. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4. The Cat Period

After 50 or so dog paintings this is the affirmative action of Bush’s painting career. No one said he wasn’t fair and balanced.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5. The World Leaders Period

In an exciting new development Bush has announced his intention to paint 19 portraits of world leaders he worked with during his time as president.

The obvious questions here are: do we get a Saddam portrait? Does Gaddafi make an appearance? What will Margaret Thatcher be wearing? Kim Jon-un or Kim Jong-il? Maybe a family shot that tresncends time? That would be neat.

These are questions only an artist can answer, and we look forward to the surprises ahead. 

There’s no guarantee Bush answers our questions on November 18, but we just hope we can ask.

 

Reach Executive Producer David Tobia here or follow him on Twitter.

 David Tobia.