Portraits of George W Bush have been popular targets for demonstrators around the world since an Iraqi journalist hurled his footwear at the outgoing US president last month and now a US art gallery has decided to capitalise on the popular political statement with a shoe throw fundraiser.

For $1 a throw, visitors can hurl shoes covered in red paint at a large picture of Bush.

City Councillor Eric Navickas, who opened the Mada Shell Gallery in Ashland, Oregon, slathered a layer of red paint on the soles of trainers, boots and sandals before people fired the footwear at an 8-foot image of Bush.

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