“American Visionary: John F. Kennedy’s Life and Times”

Exhibition

“American Visionary: John F. Kennedy’s Life and Times”
May 3 – Sept. 17

Where

Smithsonian American Art Museum, Eighth and F streets N.W.

Graphic Arts galleries, second floor

Description

President John F. Kennedy’s administration coincided with a golden age of photojournalism in America. “American Visionary: John F. Kennedy’s Life and Times” brings together images culled from the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library, the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation, Getty Images, private collections and the Kennedy family archives that capture the dramatic scope of Kennedy’s life. Some of the photographs on display are iconic; others have never before been published. The exhibition is based on the forthcoming book JFK: A Vision for America.

The museum’s presentation of “American Visionary” is the first event in the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum’s year long, nationwide celebration that commemorates Kennedy’s centennial year.

Credit

“American Visionary: John F. Kennedy’s Life and Times” is presented by the Smithsonian American Art Museum in cooperation with the John F. Kennedy Library and Foundation. Generous support for the exhibition has been provided by the Governance Institute and the Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation. Additional support has been provided by Stephen Kennedy Smith, Wiener Schiller Productions and Getty Images. The presentation in Washington, D.C., is made possible by the Margery and Edgar Masinter Exhibitions Fund and the Bernie Stadiem Endowment Fund.

Book

The forthcoming book, JFK: A Vision for America, features Kennedy’s greatest speeches alongside essays by historians, leading political thinkers, writers and artists. The book is edited by Stephen Kennedy Smith, Kennedy’s nephew, and Douglas Brinkley, professor of history at Rice University (HarperCollins, $45).

The Smithsonian American Art Museum is located at Eighth and F streets N.W., above the Gallery Place/Chinatown Metrorail station. Museum hours are 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily (closed Dec. 25). Admission is free. Museum information (recorded): (202) 633-7970. Smithsonian Information: (202) 633-1000. Follow the museum on Twitter, YouTube, Tumblr, Instagram, Facebook, Flickr, Pinterest, iTunes U and ArtBabble. Website: americanart.si.edu.

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Note to editors: Selected high-resolution images for publicity only may be downloaded from americanart.si.edu/pr. Email americanartpressoffice@si.edu for the password.

SI-103-2017