As an extension of the Hotel Texas exhibit at the Dallas Museum of Art, tonight hosted and exhibition lecture entitled, Frozen in History: The Arrival of the Kennedy's in Dallas. David Lubin who wrote the commemorative program for the exhibit has written and lectured extensively about the iconic images of the Kennedy family.
Lubin is a Professor of Art at Wake Forest University and in a class setting assigned students to iconic photos of the Kennedy's to write up historical points of the photos, elements of style, underlying symbolism etc. The compilation of these projects are now in his book Shooting Kennedy: JFK and the Culture of Images.
From an art appreciation aspect he took the large photo above and pointed to the white gloves on Jackie, the white handkerchief in the President's jacket pocket and the white carnation on Johnson's lapel and directed the audience to the inverted triangle they formed, centering Mrs. Kennedy. He also broke down the rectangular elements in her jacket, the rectangular windows on Air Force One, the rectangular pattern in the President's tie, and the symmetry they added to the image. All fascinating observations of why this is an appealing photograph.
He even gave a history lesson on why red roses were given to the First Lady instead of the Yellow Rose of Texas. He spoke to the First Lady's French background, the Channel suit, even references to Julia Child's French cuisine in American kitchens.
What struck a strong cord is we are in an age where we can instantly look back and view a photograph just seconds after it is captured. We can download an image for viewing in moments. But when the photos of the Kennedy's arrived in Dallas, no one would view these images with out the knowledge that 45 minutes after the image was captured the President would be dead, the First Lady a widow and Johnson would be the new President. It is also fascinating that the color image with the massive presence of Air Force One in the background is also the back drop for the cramped, tight, black and white image of Johnson's swearing in.
It was a very thought provoking lecture and Lubin even referenced the President having Addison's Disease that Dr. Thomas McConnell had discussed at the Living History event last month.
‘Who of you is left who saw this house in its former glory?
How does it look to you now?
Does it not seem to you like nothing?'
How does it look to you now?
Does it not seem to you like nothing?'
Haggai 2:3
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