KRAVIS CENTER CROWD LEARNS THE SUBTLE STAYING POWER OF AMERICAN ICON JACQUELINE KENNEDY ONASSIS
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – As part of the Kravis Center’s 2015-2016 Artsmart Lunch & Learn series, chaired by Lee Wolf and Steven Caras, a sold-out audience of over 620 admirers of former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis was treated to a glimpse into her incredible life. The event, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis: The Subtle Staying Power of an American Icon, was sponsored by Leona F. Chanin.
Kravis Center CEO Judith Mitchell welcomed guests and introduced the speakers, Ms. Wolf and Mr. Caras. She also thanked Jane Mitchell, Board Chair; Bill Meyer, Past Board Chair and Board Treasurer and Dr. Barbara Golden, Board member and Chair of the Education Committee, for their support.
Prior to the program, the audience watched a film on the woman who has been called American Royalty by many and to this day creates interest and admiration for her love of art, history and fashion.
During the program, Mr. Caras posed questions on Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis to Ms. Wolf, who provided animated and off-the-cuff stories about the life of one of the world’s most intriguing women.
Born Jacqueline Lee Bouvier in 1929, she married John F. Kennedy in 1953. When she became First Lady in 1961, she worked to bring elegance to the White House and to protect its holdings. After JFK’s assassination in 1963, she moved to New York City and raised her two children. In 1968, she married Aristotle Onassis, one of the world’s wealthiest men and began a career as a book editor following his death in 1975. In 1994 Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis died at the age of 64.
“Always charming and poised, there was something extraordinary beyond the pill box hat, oversized sunglasses and that beautiful face of hers,” noted Ms. Wolf. “On the surface, it looked like she had it all, with a handsome husband who happened to be President and those two gorgeous children. But she could teach us all about fortitude,” she explained, pointing to the heartbreaking times in her life.
For almost 25 years, the not-for-profit Kravis Center for the Performing Arts has helped students of all ages fuel their imaginations and expand their lives through comprehensive arts education programs. Last season, nearly 60,000 children from Palm Beach, Broward, Martin, St. Lucie and Okeechobee counties attended numerous performances through the Kravis S*T*A*R* (Students and Teachers Arts Resource) Series. More than 3,000 adults attended ARTSMART continuing education classes and lectures – with topics ranging from Princess Grace to the Great American Songbook.
For general information about the Kravis Center performances and events like the ArtsSmart Lunch & Learn series, please visit kravis.org or call the box office at 561-832-7469 (561-832-SHOW).
Centrally located in West Palm Beach, the Kravis Center is one of the premier performing arts centers in the Southeast with a renowned national and international reputation. Established as a leading force in the social fabric of the community, its many outreach programs are as broad and varied as the community itself. To date, the Center has opened the door to the performing arts for more than 2 million school children.