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Art And Sole: Patrons Pitch Shoes At Bush Image

The Associated Press

Marjorie Mather, 91, reacts after hitting a picture of President George W. Bush with a paint-covered shoe in Ashland, Ore., on Friday.

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The Associated Press

Published: January 6, 2009

ASHLAND, Ore. - Art was laced up with political statement as a gallery opened an exhibit with a paint-splattered fundraiser that featured a "shoe throw" at an image of President George W. Bush.

City Councilor Eric Navickas — who opened the Mada Shell Gallery with partner Amy Godard — slathered a layer of red paint on the soles of sneakers, boots and sandals before people fired the footwear at an 8-foot image of Bush.

Each shot cost $1 at Friday's opening, with the funds to go toward future gallery exhibits.

Godard said the exhibit is a "statement of solidarity" with Muntadhar al-Zeidi, the Iraqi journalist who was arrested after hurling two shoes at Bush in protest during a Baghdad news conference last month.

One contributor was 91-year-old Marjorie Mather.

"Wow, I didn't know that was going to be so much fun," she said after smacking a shoe into the Bush image.

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