Kennebunkport. "I am very honored andpleased," said George Bush in July at the presentation of a bronzebust which was created by the German sculptor KurtArentz. Arentz received the commission forthe bust when Bush was still President in the White House. Thepresentation finally took place in the summer residence ofBush.
For this occasion the sculptor Kurt Arentz and hiswife Therese came from Europe. The director of The Museum of EuropeanArt, B. John Zavrel and his wife Sandy attended the presentation. Thedelegation also included the Italian painter Alessandra DellaValentina, and the inventor Wilson Greatbatch.
At the presentation said B. John Zavrel: "Mr.President, this gathering gives me the opportunity to thank you foryour long-term American-European engagement. Especially in Germany,with its Chancellor Helmut Kohl, people know how to value the loyaltyof the United States, which both you as well as your predecessorRonald Reagan have always clearly demonstrated. That this communityof values is not only politically motivated, but also has its rootsin the German population, is confirmed also by the creation of yourportrait by the sculptor Kurt Arentz." It is a pleasure for us toreport that there are works by this artist in the collection of TheMuseum of European Art, which was founded in bilateral cooperation inClarence, New York.
Bush replied: "I am again pleased to realize thatmy work for a peaceful, good future has been fruitful. Whenpoliticians succeed in bringing people together in mutual respect andfriendship, the people of the various continents, then they haveaccomplished something great. But this coming together will besuccessful only on the basis of human rights." Bush said that thebust by Arentz will belong to the George Bush Presidential LibraryCenter. It will be there as a reminder of the German-Americancooperation for the years ahead.