Exhibit reunites art JFK saw before 1963 assassination

DALLAS—On the morning of Nov. 22, 1963, President John F. Kennedy and first lady Jacqueline Kennedy realized that their Fort Worth hotel suite featured an extraordinary array of artwork— from a painting by Vincent van Gogh to a bronze by Pablo Picasso.

A group of prominent Fort Worth citizens had scrambled to put together the collection in the days leading up to the president’s fateful Texas visit, transforming an otherwise plain suite into something special.

Next year, almost all of those works the couple admired in their last private moments before President Kennedy was assassinated will be on display at an exhibit that opens at the Dallas Museum of Art in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of his death.

Before the Kennedys’ visit, Fort Worth newspapers had revealed details about the preparations, including the description of the unremarkable Suite 850 at the Hotel Texas, said Scott Grant Barker, a Texas art historian who has researched the events. He said that a local art critic decided something needed to be done to make the suite shine.

Prominent citizens turned to museums and private collections to assemble 12 paintings and four sculptures.

The exhibit, “Hotel Texas: An Art Exhibition for the President and Mrs. John F. Kennedy” will open at the Dallas Museum of Art on May 26, 2013, and run through Sept. 15, 2013.

At least 14 of the 16 works will be on display, as well as photographs, videos and archival materials including images of the suite before the couple’s arrival.

DALLAS MUSEUM OF ART: 1717 N. Harwood, Dallas; dm-art. org or 214-922-1200. Exhibit Open Tuesday-Sunday 11 a.m.-5 p.m. and Thursdays until 9 p.m. Adults, $10, seniors, $7, students, $5, children 11 and under free.