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Dali, from Figueres to Florida~?
by JoEllen Coen
 
About a two hour drive north of Barcelona, in the small town of Figueres, lies the fabulous and intriguing "Teatre-Museu Dalí" (Dalí Theatre
and Museum).  What now is a museum was the former theatre of Salvador Dalí's youth, and also home to one of the first public exhibitions of young Dalí's
art.  After being destroyed by war, Dalí and the former mayor of Figueres decided in 1960 to convert the space into a museum.  The "Museu" opened to the
public in 1974, and is a fantastic display of the incredible imagination of Salvador Dalí.  You will see his own personal collection of sculpture,
paintings and furniture, in addition are works that he collected by Duchamp and El Greco.  It's a delightful and intoxicating maze that will stimulate
your mind and make the ride back to Barcelona seem almost magical.
 
Until recently I thought that the only way to experience Dalí and all of that whimsy was to go back to Spain, which seems to get more and more difficult
as time goes on.  Who knew that one of the foremost collections of Dalí resides in St. Petersburg, Florida?  Nestled within the Bayboro Harbor in a
former marine storage warehouse lies the  "The Dalí Museum".  In existence in St. Petersburg for the past 26 years, the collection was actually birthed
in Cleveland, Ohio in 1942 by the wealthy and industrious A. Reynolds Morse and his wife Eleanor Reese Morse.  They began a friendship with Dalí and his
wife Gala that lasted over 40 years and has resulted in the most comprehensive private collection of Dalí's work in the world.  The collection was moved
to St. Petersburg in 1980 after an attorney there read in The Wall Street Journal that the Morse family was shopping for a home for their collection of
original Salvador Dalí artwork. Much to the delight of south Floridians, "The Dalí Museum" opened it's doors in 1982. 
 
According to the museums' website you will find "...96 oil paintings, the collection includes over 100 watercolors and drawings, 1,300 graphics,
photographs, sculptures and objects d'art, and an extensive archival library" .  In 1992 the Museum acquired it's first major piece since the Morse's
called, "Galacidalacidesoxiribunucleicacid" (go ahead, try and pronounce it). The museum now attracts over 200,000 visitors each year and has an
extensive educational outreach program offering free admission to students year round. 
 
On December 12, 2009 the museums' Director broke ground at the site of what will be the new Dalí museum.  The new Dalí will overlook Tampa Bay and is
located only a few blocks from the original museum.  Set to open in the winter of 2011, the new space will be nearly twice as big as it's predecessor.
The museums director Hank Hine says "The landmark building will be realized as a collaboration between architect Yann Weymouth of HOK, the Museum staff,
and the builder the Beck Group. Built more efficiently than many contemporary museum structures, the new Dali combines elements of the classical and the
fantastical – much like the work of Dalí." Although the expected $35 million dollar price-tag for construction is partially funded by the State of
Florida, the museum is counting on the generosity of it's patrons for help. For more information visit: http://salvadordalimuseum.org/dream/. 
 
How fantastic that we can experience Dalí right here in the US, and in such a beautiful setting.  Never having considered it before, St. Petersburg is now on my list.