J. F. Kennedy Memorial, Birmingham

{{Infobox artwork

| title = J. F. Kennedy Memorial

| italic title = no

| image_file = JFK mural.JPG

| caption = The completed recreation, February 2013 (Former Birmingham mayor Nangle visible bottom right)

| alt =

| artist = Kenneth Budd

| year = {{start date|1968}}

| type = Mosaic mural

| material =

| subject = John F. Kennedy

| height_metric = 4.5

| width_metric = 14

| height_imperial =

| width_imperial =

| metric_unit = m

| imperial_unit = ft

| condition = Recreated 2012–2013

| city = Birmingham, England

| museum =

| coordinates = {{Coord|52.474950|-1.886312|region:GB-BIR_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}

| owner =

| url =

}}

The J. F. Kennedy Memorial in Birmingham, England, is a memorial mosaic mural to John F. Kennedy, by Kenneth Budd.{{cite web|url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/local-news/planning-application-for-jfk-memorial-to-be-moved-163687|title=Planning application for JFK memorial to be moved to Digbeth is submitted - Birmingham Mail|last=Authi|first=Jasbir|date=20 October 2011|work=Birmingham Mail|accessdate=24 January 2013}}

The mosaic, commissioned by Birmingham's Irish community and unveiled in 1968,{{cite web|url=http://www.britishpathe.com/video/kennedy-mosaic-mural|title=KENNEDY MOSAIC MURAL|publisher=British Pathé|accessdate=24 January 2013}} and funded by public subscription, was constructed in panels, at Budd's company in south London, Kenneth Budd and Associates.

It was dismantled in 2007 and remade, with alterations, in 2012, by the artist's son, for erection at a new site.

Original location

The mosaic was erected on St Chad's Circus (at approx {{Coord|52.485451|-1.900173|region:GB-BIR_type:landmark|display=inline}}), outside the City's Roman Catholic St Chad's Cathedral, in July 1968, at a cost of £5,000. When the road system was redeveloped in 2007 the mosaic was demolished. Key features, including the heads of some of the main figures, were retrieved and retained by Kenneth Budd's son Oliver.{{cite web|url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/local-news/olivers-a-real-chip-off-the-old-block-23537|title=Oliver's a real chip off the old block|last=Elkes|first=Neil|date=19 June 2006|work=Birmingham Mail|accessdate=27 November 2013}}{{cite web|last=Budd|first=Oliver|date=1 January 2012|title=Meanwhile, Back to JFK|url=http://www.buddmosaic.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/meanwhile-back-to-jfk.html|accessdate=2 December 2013}}

Re-creation

In 2012 it was re-created using new materials.Budd, Oliver (1 January 2012). [http://www.buddmosaic.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/kennedy-mosaic-commission.html "Kennedy Mosaic Commission"]. Retrieved 27 November 2013. The new mosaic was erected in January 2013, in the city's Irish Quarter, on Floodgate Street in Digbeth,{{cite web|url=http://digbeth.org/2013/01/digbeths-new-jfk-mural/|title=Digbeth's new JFK mural |author=Pamela|date=18 January 2013|publisher=Digbeth.org|accessdate=24 January 2013}} in reworked form, including the controversial{{cite web|url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/local-news/new-row--over-adding-785611|title=New row over adding face of ex-Lord Mayor Mike Nangle to Birmingham JFK mosaic - Birmingham Mail|last=Bradley|first=Steve|date=11 January 2013|work=Birmingham Mail|accessdate=24 January 2013}} addition of a new face, that of former Lord Mayor of Birmingham Mike Nangle, the city's first Irish Lord Mayor. The work was overseen by Budd's son, Oliver,{{cite web|url=http://www.buddmosaic.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/all-way-with-jfk.html|title=ALL THE WAY - WITH JFK!!!|last=Budd|first=Oliver|work=Budd Mosaic news|date=23 January 2013|accessdate=24 January 2013}} who worked from his father's original drawings. The retained sections were not used as the colours had faded and would not match the new Smalti mosaic tiles. A formal unveiling took place on 23 February 2013.{{cite web|url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/incoming/birmingham-jfk-memorial-back-show-1345869|title=Birmingham JFK memorial back on show in Digbeth|date=25 February 2013|work=Birmingham Mail|accessdate=27 February 2013}}

Composition

Featured alongside Kennedy in the mosaic are his brother Ted,{{cite web|url=http://www.buddmosaic.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/teddys-back.html|title=TEDDY'S BACK!!!!!|last=Budd|first=Oliver|date=1 October 2012|accessdate=24 January 2013}} the seal of the president of the United States (using real gold),{{cite web|url=http://www.buddmosaic.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/presidential-seal.html|title=THE PRESIDENTIAL SEAL|last=Budd|first=Oliver|date=7 July 2012|accessdate=24 January 2013}} Martin Luther King Jr.,{{cite web|url=http://www.buddmosaic.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/martin-luther-king-back-in-picture.html|title=MARTIN LUTHER KING BACK IN THE PICTURE|last=Budd|first=Oliver|date=28 May 2012|accessdate=24 January 2013}} American policemen, and other figures.

Text

The text gives an incorrect date of 1960, the year he was elected, for the start of his presidency, when he was actually president from January 1961. This inaccuracy was also present in the original creation.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-25088266|title=John F Kennedy memorial bears 'wrong date of presidency'|work=BBC Online News|accessdate=27 November 2013|date=27 November 2013}}

The original mosaic had wording at either side. The wording on the right{{cite web|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/16749798@N08/4817989720/|title=Kennedy Memorial & St.Chad's RC Cathedral. St.Chad's Circus. May 1970|work=Flickr|accessdate=25 January 2013|date=May 1970}} said (all in upper case):

There are

no white or

coloured

signs on

the grave-

yards of

battle

The recreated mosaic has different words. On the left (again, all in upper case):

In tribute

to John F

Kennedy

President