Thought some of you might be interested...
Travel Advisory: Spain Remembers Dalí, a Flamboyant Son March 7, 2004 Year Dalí 2004 is under way, marking the centennial of the birth of Salvador Dalí. The artist who proclaimed "I am Surrealism" would not be disappointed by the roster of exhibitions, performances and conferences honoring him. Organized by the Gala-Salvador Dalí Foundation with an international committee of scholars and politicians, the anniversary offers a comprehensive look at the artist, who both expanded and helped define art in the 20th century. Most of the events are happening in Catalonia, the region of Spain where Dalí was born and spent much of his life. (He died in 1989 in Figueres, his hometown in northern Catalonia.) Among the most revelatory exhibitions is "Dalí: Mass Culture," which examines Dalí's work at the intersection of high and low culture, influencing later artists like Andy Warhol. It includes 400 works, ranging from Dalí's famous Surrealist paintings to French perfume and cognac bottles designed by him. In between are collaborations with the photographers Man Ray and Brassaï, the film makers Buñuel, Hitchcock and Walt Disney, as well as Dalí's ventures in advertising, fashion, graphic design and his adroitness at getting news media attention. The exhibition is at the Caixa Forum in Barcelona through May 23, and then goes to Madrid; St. Petersburg, Fla., and Rotterdam. Also in Catalonia will be "Dalí: Elective Affinities," at the Palau Moja in Barcelona through April 18, highlighting the influences of artists such as Duchamp, Man Ray and Tanguy, on his work. The Gala-Dalí House Museum in Pùbol will present starting March 15 "Salvador Dalí: Unpublished Drawings," showcasing Dalí's skill as a draftsman. Other shows include "Dalí/Gaudí," "Dalí's Land," "Dalí and Lorca," "Dalí and Optical Illusions," and "Dalímitating," a look at his influence on later artists. Outside Spain, a retrospective of 150 paintings from international collections, including many of Dalí's iconic Surrealist masterpieces from the 1930's as well as his early and mature works, opens at the Palazzo Grassi in Venice Sept. 5 and goes to the Philadelphia Museum of Art next February. There are also symposia, film series, publications, concerts, and performances of Dalinian operas and ballet. This summer, the Peralada Castle Festival in Barcelona will feature a performance of "Salome" by Richard Strauss with re-creations, based on models and sketches by Dalí, of costumes and sets the artist designed for Covent Garden in 1949. Catalan restaurants are also celebrating with special menus and Surrealist-inspired dishes, from local cafeterias to El Bulli, a modern mecca of Spanish cuisine. A complete listing of events and dates with links to Year Dalí sites is available at www.dali2004.org. ANDREW FERREN
