Remembering John F. Kennedy – 50 Years Later

By: Kerry Kraus

Every baby boomer alive can tell you exactly where they were on November 22, 1963 when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. It’s indelible in our minds; something we will never forget.  2013 is the 50th anniversary of this monumental occasion.

In observance of this historic happening, the Argenta Historic District in downtown North Little Rock is hosting a special exhibit entitled “JFK 50 Years Later.” It is comprised of 120 historic photos from Rogers Photo Archives and Argenta Images, some of which have either never been seen or have been on rare occasions. The photos capture essence of the 35th president. They illustrate everyday life, family, politics, critical issues of the era, and his presidency. The photos will be on display March 25-30.

Eight North Little Rock locations will showcase the images. They are:

  1. The Joint, 301 Main St., #102 — Moon Shot: The Space Race
     
  2. Thea Foundation, 401 Main St., #100 — JFK: His Family
     
  3. Starving Artist Café, 411 Main St. — JFK: The Kennedy Clan
     
  4. Art Connection, 204 East 4th St. — JFK: The Arts and the Challenge for Public Service
     
  5. Argenta Community Theater, 405 Main St. — JFK: 1000 Days of Camelot
     
  6. Pennington Studios, 417 Main St. — JFK: A Nation Mourns
     
  7. Greg Thompson Fine Art, 429 Main St. — JFK: From Campaigns to Cold War
     
  8. Paint Box Gallery, 705 Main St. — Jacqueline Kennedy

Special events scheduled to take place include:

  1. Monday, March 25: 7 p.m. showing of an exhibition film about President Kennedy by Craig Renaud, award-winning executive director of Little Rock Film Festival, at the Argenta Community Theater.
     
  2. Tuesday, March 26: Noon reading by Governor and Honorary Chairman Mike Beebe of JFK’s inaugural speech on the steps of the Argenta Post Office at 420 Main St.
     
  3. Tuesday, March 26: The award-winning NPR radio program based in Argenta “Tales from the South” features writers discussing “Where Were You?” on the show’s acclaimed Tin Roof Project; 5:30 p.m. at the Starving Artist Café.
     
  4. Wednesday, March 27: “Shooting JFK: A Conversation with Photographer Willie Allen,” a 6 p.m. event at the Argenta Community Theater. Allen, who grew up in North Little Rock, was a photographer for the Dallas Morning News in November 1963. You can read a fascinating interview with Allen conducted by the Arkansas Times in 2004.
     
  5. Thursday, March 28: 7 p.m. screening of director Oliver Stone’s “JFK” at the Argenta Community Theater.
     
  6. Saturday, March 30: The 7 p.m. Exhibition Finale (Argenta Community Theater) features an auction of the works with a Kennedy theme these by Arkansas-based artists:

The photo exhibition is free; special events require purchase of tickets. Proceeds benefit the Argenta Arts Foundation and the North Little Rock Moonshot Project, a community initiative to increase college attainment levels through the arts, education and economic development.