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The Dali has friends

Museum observes its 25th anniversary with a festival.

By CRISTINA SILVA
Published March 25, 2007

ST. PETERSBURG - A Frank Zappa cover band stood in place of melting clocks. Inside the museum, a tarot reader offered glimpses into the future.

It might not have been exactly surreal, but the DaliFest, the Salvador Dali Museum's 25th anniversary festival on Saturday, attracted more than 3,000 people interested in taking advantage of the free live music, discounted museum admission and street fair atmosphere.

The Dali Museum, one of the Tampa Bay area's most instantly recognizable tourist attractions, is a cornerstone of the local art community and renowned for its small but impressive collection.

On Saturday, art lovers abounded, some more passionate than others.

Demelza Hays, 18, and Danielle Schmier, 17, two high schoolers from Tampa, dressed up in honor of the eccentric Spanish artist in electric blue wigs, patent black leather and chunky black heels.

"Everyone just came in their sandals, like it's a normal festival," Hays said, visibly upset. "This is the spirit of Dali," she said, gesturing to her ripped fishnet stockings and Schmier's lacy, velvet black dress.

The all-day festival along the museum's waterfront park drew crowds looking for a slice of culture.

An oversized Dali painting with face-sized cutouts so guests could stand behind it and pose, like a carnival image, stood on the grass.

Children lined up to have henna artists draw intricate mehndi patterns on their wrists, palms and feet.

Surrounded by images of Dali's work, Monica Hilbert, a tarot reader, warned one client about a pending bout with cancer, but assured that the illness would quickly pass.

Another person had a sore throat, a direct consequence of dislike of a co-worker, Hilbert said.

"Dali's wife, Gala, read the tarot," explained Kathy White, the museum's marketing director.

The event was family-friendly, with flamenco dancing, and live jazz and funk music.

Cindy Gagne of Seminole watched as henna markings were applied to the hands of her two daughters, 10 and 18, early Saturday evening.

"Their mother won't let them get tattoos, so they do this to me instead," she said, referring to herself in the third person.

Erika Ginsberg-Klemmt was driving by the museum with her husband when their three children heard the music and begged them to stop the car. Dali's haunting images do not frighten her grade schoolers.

"It meets their expectations in terms of their own imaginations," she said.

[Last modified March 25, 2007, 00:41:07]