A Surrealistic Afternoon in Monterey

Salvador Dali spent several years in Monterey, California during the 1940’s. Perhaps it is fitting that the largest private collection of his works in the US are available for viewing in a permanent exhibit only steps from Fisherman’s Wharf in Monterey.

Like most people, I am quite familiar with Persistence of Memory, with its melting watches. What I didn’t know was that Dali illustrated a wide variety of stories from the Bible to Alice in Wonderland to Dante’s Inferno to a few stories with sexual themes, including copulating beans. I hadn’t realized what a creative illustrator he was.

Dali also created illustrations for Tarot cards and another series for the Apostles which look instead like the Knights of the Round Table.

It is an amazing exhibit that is not to be missed if you go to Monterey Bay.