Engaging New Installations at The Dalí
Award-Winning “Dreams of Dali” Virtually Reality Experience Returns Permanently; New Sculpture of Dali’s Iconic Mustache Graces the Avant-Garden
ST. PETERSBURG, FLA (November 21, 2016) – The Dalí is well known for its slate of temporary exhibitions featuring works of important artists such as Andy Warhol, Pablo Picasso and, coming December 17, 2016, the world’s most celebrated female artist of all time – Frida Kahlo. Today, the Museum announces two new permanent installations for the public to enjoy beginning November 30, 2016: a breathtaking new outdoor sculpture of Salvador Dalí’s memorable mustache, and, inside its galleries, the awe-inspiring and globally award-winning Dreams of Dali virtual reality (VR) experience.
First introduced as a component of the special exhibition Disney & Dali: Architects of the Imagination (January-June 2016), Dreams of Dali allows users to go inside – and beyond – Dali’s 1935 painting Archeological Reminiscence of Millet’s “Angelus” and explore the world of the Surrealist master like never before. The VR experience and its component 360-degree video received visitor acclaim, online praise and international recognition through a multitude of industry awards, including the prestigious 2016 Cannes Cyber Lion GOLD; a 2016 Webby People’s Voice award; Facebook Silver award for Innovation, among many others.
“With such high visitor and viewer demand, this breakthrough VR experience now has a permanent home within our permanent collection gallery,” said Dr. Hank Hine, Executive Director of The Dalí. “Dreams of Dali is an immersive art experience, compelling visitors to contemplate reality and inspiring them to examine their dreams, like Dalí did, using state-of-the-art technology.”
Visitors to the Museum are engulfed by art in every form – from the magnificent works of the talented Salvador Dalí on display, to the spellbinding architecture of the venue itself, to the distinguished design, plantings and installations in the outdoor Avant-garden. The Garden was inspired by local flora and Dali’s fascination with duality in art and nature, and is home to a tree where visitors can share their wishes, a meandering labyrinth, a tranquil “melting clock” bench, and myriad mathematical environmental elements. One of the most popular attractions in the Garden, known as the ideal spot to take photos and share via social media, was a colossal 3-dimensional mustache that over time began to deteriorate.
For a permanent interpretation of Dali’s dramatic mustache, the Museum turned to local artist Donald Gialanella to create a new 17-foot long landmark sculpture. To ensure it longevity, Gialanella used CorTEN steel, a special alloy that forms a thin oxidized patina that protects the material from corrosion. He designed around the principle of parallax, featuring a series of parallel profile plates, so that the appearance of the sculpture changes, based on the vantage point of the viewer. Tampa Steel & Supply sponsored this surreal installation, as part of its service to the Tampa Bay region, which began in 1983.
“The previous mustache was placed in the Avant-garden as happenstance, having been removed from an outdoor billboard ad, but it quickly became an integral part of the visitor experience, inspiring countless selfies,” said Kathy Greif, Chief Marketing Officer at The Dalí. “We are thrilled to have a permanent, artistic tribute to what may be the world’s most famous mustache.”
The Dalí is on the cutting edge of art and culture, consistently delivering exciting new exhibitions, thoughtful programming and engaging events. These two new installations further demonstrate the Museum’s commitment to sharing important and engaging art with the local community. The Museum’s next addition, Frida Kahlo at The Dalí, opens its doors on December 17 as Florida’s first solo exhibition showcasing the extraordinary career and life of the acclaimed 20th century artist. The special exhibit will feature a collection of more than 60 Kahlo pieces, including 15 paintings, seven drawings and a host of personal photographs from the celebrated female artist and influential icon.
About The Dalí Museum
The Dalí Museum, located in the heart of beautiful downtown St. Petersburg, Florida, is home to an unparalleled collection of Salvador Dalí art, featuring more than 2,000 works comprising nearly 100 oil paintings; over 100 watercolors and drawings; and 1,300 prints, photographs, sculptures and objets d’art. The building is itself a work of art, featuring 1,062 triangular-shaped glass panels—the only structure of its kind in North America. Nicknamed The Enigma, it provides an unprecedented view of St. Petersburg’s picturesque waterfront. The Museum has attracted the world’s attention, and among the other distinguished awards it has received, it was listed by AOL Travel News as “one of the top buildings to see in your lifetime.” The Dalí Museum is located at One Dalí Boulevard, St. Petersburg, Florida 33701. For additional information contact 727.823.3767 or visit TheDali.org.
MEDIA CONTACT Lorin Konchak Augeri, LAugeri@paradiseadv.com, 954.815.2156