Stepping Out

Presidential moments

Hofstra University salutes the many occupants of the White House

Posted

The times sure have changed — so have our perceptions of our presidents.
That transformation of the presidential image is the focus of “From Portraits to Tweets: Imagery, Technology and the U.S. Presidency,” an original exhibit now on view at Hofstra University Museum’s Emily Lowe Gallery. The exhibition, which runs through May 8, examines the way changing views and changing artistic mediums have altered how we view our inhabitants of the White House through the years — and centuries.
Early U.S. presidents tightly controlled their image,” says Beth E. Levinthal, executive director of the museum. “As new technologies and artistic media ushered in an age of accessibility, Americans have changed how they see and perceive the presidency. This exhibition takes us from the early days of our republic to the contemporary scene where even Twitter and Facebook play a role in our perceptions of the presidency.” 
The exhibit covers a lot of ground — from Gilbert Stuart’s posthumously painted portrait of George Washington to what is considered the first presidential selfie, 43 presidents later, when Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden were seen in a Twitter post, shot inside a limo. That image can be viewed at interactive kiosk, where visitors can also check out various Twitter posts to examine the modern-day approach to presidential image-making.
Along the way, you’ll find John Quincy Adams, posed in a daguerreotype, images of Abraham Lincoln, a newsreel of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s 1933 inauguration, where he appears to walk to the podium, a 1972 Andy Warhol silk screen with a harsh looking Richard Nixon and the proclamation “Vote McGovern,” a glimpse of Ronald Regan’s 1987 “Tear Down This Wall” speech at Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate, and Robert Rauschenberg’s “Signs” collage, among the many items on display. “The Rauschenberg piece is a remarkable work that truly captures the sixties,” says Levinthal.
There are also cartoons and campaign memorabilia that show a slice of history through political campaigning. “As we became a more developed nation and technology advanced, we started to get photos appearing on campaign buttons, and from there all sorts of images started to appear on campaign materials,” says Levinthal. From that early industrial age, political cartooning also emerged, which is reflected in the
exhibit.
The transformation of the presidential image from its earliest day when it could be viewed only by a limited audience, by means of a portrait or another type of artist rendering, to today’s 24 hours news cycle and culture of immediacy is clearly demonstrated throughout the variety of materials on view.
“It’s an incredibly rich exhibit with a lot of content,” says Levinthal. “You’ll see how presidents were once in control of their image and now in the 21st century there’s a different definition of reality.”
Three years in development, the exhibition culled from a variety of sources, including private collections, the New York Historical Society, the Brooklyn Museum and Sagamore Hill. It coincides with Hofstra Cultural Center’s 12th Presidential Conference, on George W. Bush, March 23-25. The exhibit will be an important component of the conference.
“The time that we live in, this age of advanced technology has resulted in a huge shift in how presidents are perceived,” says Levinthal. “We want visitors to understand that the perception of presidents will change as time goes on. Most important is that the image endures. The image is critical and the artist is also critical. This exhibit demonstrates the powerful role that artists play in capturing history and in life.”
She points to Stuart’s portrait of George Washington as an example. A highlight of the exhibit for many visitors, and among Levinthal’s favorites, “it is extraordinary,” she says. “It captures the promise of a young nation through the image of its first president.”
The museum offers a series of family art program s (as part of its Second Saturday series) to enhance the exhibit experience. “Tangle It” on March 14 examines how artists use lines in unique ways, followed by an art activity to create a drawing of tangles and patterns. “Voice It” on April 18 looks at presidential image making, with participants creating their own campaign posters. “Imagine It” on May 9 explores the idea of contrasts in art.
Hofstra also offers another presidential viewpoint, in its second presidential-themed exhibition, “The George W. Bush Presidency: Points of Perspective, is also currently on view at Hofstra’s nearby David Filderman Gallery. It features works of art, documents, photographs, and objects focusing on the 2000 election, the September 11 tragedy, the War on Terror, Afghanistan and Iraq, Hurricane Katrina, the 2008 economic crisis, social security reform, and AIDS and malaria initiatives in Africa — events and actions that required George W. Bush administration responses and decisions. 
“We took seven decision points that were prominent during his administration and provide an artistic and photojournalist perspective,” explains Levinthal. “It’s a very balanced perspective that covers a lot of ground. We even have a voting booth from Florida with hanging chads.”
Based on the premise of President Bush’s memoir “Decision Points,” Levinthal and her staff decided to focus on seven specific points as the exhibit’s focus, which was developed in collaboration with the George W. Bush Presidential Library. “It’s a powerful show that includes writings and artifacts,” she says.

Page 1 / 2