PHOTO GALLERY: George W. Bush in Sarasota

George W. Bush was the featured speaker at Ringling College Library Association's Town Hall Lecture Series Tuesday, Jan. 14, at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall.

The Town Hall Lecture Series has been sold out since the committee sent out the first and only mailing. Every audience member had to go through a metal detector.

Kristine Nickel, President of the Ringling College Library Association, speaks prior to Bush's introduction.

George W. Bush cracks a joke about how Sarasota had visits from his wife and daughter and are now working our way down the food chain.

Within the first three minutes of speaking, Bush addresses his painting hobby.

"It's good to be back in Sarasota," George W. Bush says.

George W. Bush hasn't visited the area since September 11, 2001, when he visited Sarasota Elementary School. It was during that visit he learned of the attack on the Twin Towers.