Friday, November 22, 2013

JFK


President John F. Kennedy was assassinated fifty years ago in Dallas.  Anyone my age can tell you exactly where they were when they got the news.

The Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford pairs two Kennedy artworks.  On the left is Retroactive I, a  1964 oil and silkscreen by Robert Rauschenberg that includes a reference to the space race and a photo of Kennedy and his characteristic pointing gesture.

On the right is Bluewald (1989 - 90) by Cady Noland, a silkscreen on aluminum with fabric and wood.  It is based on the newspaper photograph of Kennedy's assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald, as he was shot by Jack Ruby.


19 comments:

VP said...

I am old enough to remember where I was... In my humble opinion, this is not the way I would like to remeber JFK or even his murderer.

Stefan Jansson said...

One hundred new books about JFK have been published this year. Documentary running on Swedish TV since a few weeks.

William Kendall said...

Between the two I would prefer the left. The one on the right is quite morbid.

His death was years before my time.

Luis Gomez said...

So much work on him.

Kate said...

There has been a blizzard of medic coverage this past week, which serves to remind us of the fragility of life.

The two pieces of art which you photographed says it all.

Sharon said...

You are so right! I remember it like it was yesterday.

Tanya Breese said...

i'm with william, the one on the right is disturbing, but then i guess it's meant to be...i prefer the one on the left!

EG CameraGirl said...

These pieces are powerful, Jack.

We have had a week of news coverage here in Canada about JFK who is still remembered by many.

Sue said...

I was too young to remember where I was but I do remember my mother crying. As a toddler that was quite disturbing.

PerthDailyPhoto said...

Seems amazing to realize that it was half a century ago!

Malyss said...

I posted too about Kennedy today!
Already 50 years, can you believe it?!

Sylvia K said...

I was in Dallas that day and I will never forget it! It was the nightmare of all nightmares. I, too, have trouble believing it's been 50 years ago!!

RedPat said...

50 years go by so quickly!

LOLfromPasa said...

Interesting posting for today, Jack. I am not sure I like either of these two artworks but I do like tone in your post today and the comments.

Kay said...

One big, blurry nightmare. Parked in front of the television sharing a national horror.

CaT said...

we were in dallas last december. we didnt do the "assassination tour" that was offered. such weird things people try to make money off...

im not so sure about the art! :)

Michelle said...

The left image is interesting, but the image of Oswald is unpleasant...really as it was.

Cezar and Léia said...

I often wonder how the world would be today, should he had completed his tenure as president...
God bless you!
Cezar

jennyfreckles said...

I wonder if he would have lived up to the promise if it had not all happened as it did. I do still remember the day - I was at school, my first term at upper school, and the headteacher called us all in to the assembly hall to tell us the news. Not sure that, aged 11, I really took in the significance.