STACY LOMMAN : NEW YORK - Luxury Apparel

STACY LOMMAN : NEW YORK  -  Luxury Apparel

11.14.2011

Hello Dali

I adore this photo -- fabulous shape, composition and subjects!

I think I remember when Salvador Dali died, but I was a teenager so I can't say it made much of an impact.  Sad, considering I was painting in school at that time and I was highly influenced by the great Spanish surrealist.  Born in 1904, Dali had an extensive career spanning over six decades.  The body of work produced by this colorful, unique man is enormous.  Monumental. 

I snapped this photo outside of the museum

This weekend, I had the great opportunity to visit the Dali Museum in St. Petersburg, FL.  I highly recommend a visit, you won't regret it.  I'm not so sure Salvador would approve of the commercialized merchandise in the gift shop such as; the butterfly headband, the ant hat and bib or the Dali doll that looks more like Vincent Price, but I hope he would gain some satisfaction in knowing that so many of his pieces are gathered in a beautiful space for the world to see and enjoy.



The museum, which opened in 1982 (several years before Dali's death in 1989), contains over 1500 pieces (donated by ardent collectors, A. Reynolds and Eleanor R. Morse) from Dali's oeuvre.  The collection ranges from his slightly cubistic early works in thick layered oils on canvas and linen; to his fine line, hyper-detailed pencil sketches and etchings; to his scupltures and photographs. Most people know Dali for his whimsical, upturned moustache; his famous melting clocks; segmented, distorted body parts and his Masterworks (paintings which are at least 5ft. tall or wide and have taken at least a year to complete); but not many are aware that he even created jewelry. 



A true genius, Dali lived in an avant garde world where he was thought by many to be insane.  Still, he is considered to be one of the greatest surrealists of all time, inspiring many artists such as; Damien Hirst, Jeff Koons and even the late, Andy Warhol.


Dali's brilliant pieces are often matched with equally brilliant, bizarre and humours titles of which I've listed (in chronological order) my top five favorites below...

1.  Ordinary French Loaf with Two Fried Eggs Riding Without a Plate (1932)
2.  Atmospheric Skull Sodomizing a Grand Piano (1934)
3.  Skull with its Lyric Appendage Leaning on a Bedside Table which should have the Exact Temperature of a Cardinal's Nest (1934)
4.   Fountain of Milk Spreading Itself Uselessly on Three Shoes (1945)
5.  Logical Rapproachment of a Trouser Button and a Pair of Cherries (1958)

5 comments:

  1. I love Dali. I had no idea about the museum but if I ever do get back to Florida I will definitely visit.

    I loved the scene in the movie Midnight in Paris when the Dali character says "I see rhinoceros!"

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  2. Love Dali ... love that Lorraine Braccho was one of his models. (LOVE your new banner).

    Fascinating man. He once donated a very large mural to a New York prison, where it sat, visible and yet forgotten, for years until a new warden understood what was there and promptly auctioned it off for $$$ to upgrade the prison. Dali liked that.

    His mustachio, his leopard coat. Fascinating. Have you seen him on youtube in What's My Line? So ironic.

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  3. I think I will forever be trying to figure out how I feel about Dali. I really admire the risks he took.

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  4. Madeleine,

    You are always a fountain of information! I'm in awe of you. Thank you for sharing that story about the prison guard... I love it!!!

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  5. I loved Adrien Brody as Dali in Midnight in Paris...talking about the rhinoceros!

    My favorite work of Dali's is his ruby and pearl "mouth" brooch, of course.

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