A positive deluge greeted me as I ventured out of our hotel in St. Petersburg, Florida. My sandaled feet were soaked within about 12 seconds. The not-large-enough umbrella clutched above my head kept little below my torso dry. I wavered beside the hotel entrance for a minute, wondering if perhaps staying in the hotel with a “Back to the Future” marathon playing on television would be such a bad way to spend the morning. Then I steeled my resolve and set forth.
Fortunately for me, my destination, the Dali Museum, was only about 15 minutes away by foot. Truth be told, I’ve never quite understood the artistic triumphs that are the collected works of Salvador Dali. The surrealist movement is simply beyond my own tastes. But I wanted to try it on for size for a day. See if we couldn’t come to terms with each other.
I took a circuitous path to the museum, hugging the waterfront, taking too many pictures of boats and palm trees, feeling my hair grow bigger with every second of humidity exposure. When I arrived, the security guards at the door gave me the once over and waved the slightly damp human through, gesturing toward a plastic bag to house my dripping umbrella. With audioguide hanging around my neck and accompanying headphones plopped over my ears I walked up the spiraling staircase and dove in.
To my delight there was also a temporary M.C. Escher exhibit at the museum at that time. To my consternation they didn’t allow any photographs to be snapped within that specific exhibit hall. I truly loved learning more about Escher, marveling at his technique and talent, and seeing the progression of how he worked through his artistic career. (Lacking photos for this part of our tour let me direct you here if you need an Escher fix.) It took 30 years of dedicated work before he was able to financially support himself and his family through his art. Thirty years. If that’s not fortitude and commitment to your calling I don’t know what is.
Once finished visiting with Escher I crossed the hall to the permanent Dali collection. It’s still unclear why exactly the “preeminent collection of Dali’s work in America” is housed in Florida. As far as I can tell Dali never spent much time — if any — in Florida. And the owners of the collection, Reynolds and Eleanor Morse, were originally from Ohio and first exhibited their vast Dali collection in Cleveland. So why Florida? If someone has some insight into the situation please share with the class. All that aside, it was an impressive display. Much like the Escher installation, the Dali works were arranged to show his career’s progression. Many of the first paintings look nothing like what you would expect of Dali, instead representing very classic, Impressionist work. According to my handy audioguide, as a student he mastered many different techniques simply because he wanted to prove he could. A somewhat defiant approach to life that I sort of love.
May I interject with a little aside about audioguides? Well since I’m driving the ship I say yes, yes I can. I was always always one of those folks who thought audioguides were about as dorky-tourist as one could get. The lanyards looped over necks, the clunky headphones, everyone standing very quietly in big packs together. But then I went and married a big dork. On our honeymoon he did everything he could to convert me to the ways of audioguides, which, when you’re in Rome and don’t speak the language, comes quite in handy.
(Photographic evidence of the dork I call my own truly rocking the brightly hued audioguide presented to us at the colosseum in Rome, circa 2013. ▼▼▼)
Yet, I remained a tentative fan. That is until I stepped into the Dali museum, paid for my ticket and was immediately directed to the audioguide station. Free of charge! Being a solo cultural explorer that day it seemed like a decent way to learn about all things Dali, so I went for it. And can I just say, I think I’m a real and true convert now. I’ve seen the light. It was entirely pleasant learning about Escher and Dali more in depth than the little accompanying placards beside certain works could provide. It also compelled me to slow down and really consider the galleries instead of taking on the museum at my usual hurried gait. So next time you’re confronted with the option, take the audioguide already! Embrace the dorkiness. We will welcome you with team sweatshirts.
Thus concludes the aside. Carry on.
It’s a little difficult to see here, but you’ll notice this gal is also embracing the audioguide option. A kindred spirit this one.
And a glass of wine and gazpacho to conclude the visit. I walked away having enjoyed my time donning the cape of a surrealist, giving it a try and giving it my best, but in the end I’m just not too sure this particular artistic movement is for me. What can you do?
I’m going to let Salvador Dali take us out:
“I am not strange. I am just not normal.”
Amen to that, Mr. Dali. Amen.