Salvador Dali Museum – St Pete, Florida
Posted on Tuesday, February 9th, 2010
From the outside of the museum to the gift bags – everything is a work of art at the Salvador Dali Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida. Since Day 1 of my recent trip to Florida, I planned on visiting the Dali – centered solely on one of my all-time favorite artists. I planned on a Thursday visit because from 5pm to 8pm, the museum offers extended night hours for a reduced admission price of $5. The regular entrance fee is $17 so this discount delighted my inner bargain shopper.
It would take about 30 to 40 minutes to reach the museum and my boyfriend tried his best not to go. He tempted me with all sorts of alternatives, but I told him this museum meant something to me. So, at 7pm, we finally braved the traffic and I was convinced we wouldn’t make it. The time was 7:40-ish when we reached the museum and the woman with the stern British accent at the front desk promptly turned us away. I dejectedly wandered about the gift shop while my boyfriend disappeared. The next thing I know, he gave me a sticker and was told I must return before closing – how Cinderella-ish!
Holding my cell phone tightly (to check the time), I took in the entire museum with about 5 minutes to spare in the gift shop to pick up a calendar and a few post cards.
My favorite paintings are the ones with hidden faces. I also fell in love with the Bust of Dante – twisted spoons serving as a crown. Interestingly, there was a holograph of Alice Cooper’s brain on display. The Gems Collection showcased recreated pieces of Dali artworks with diamonds, gold, and pearls. The infamous melting clock was transformed into a gold and diamond brooch.
A couple of Salvador Dali artworks I had the pleasure of viewing included
Old Age, Adolescence, Infancy (The Three Ages), where Dali uses double images to create the symbolic faces of Old Age, Adolescence, and Infancy, and Slave Market with the Disappearing Bust of Voltaire (shown below).
The small yet effective Salvador Dali Museum is located at:
1000 3rd Street South
St. Petersburg, Florida, 33701
