When longtime Dalí collectors Eleanor and A. Reynolds Morse began their initial search for a space to house their acquisitions, the artist himself suggested they build a museum in New York with "walls that breathe and pulse imperceptibly, moved by a pneumatic apparatus." The couple ultimately opened a museum near their Cleveland home, but 10 years later, when the number of visitors outgrew the size of the museum, they were forced to look for a bigger space. Local leaders persuaded them to settle in St. Petersburg, and an existing marine storage warehouse situated on Bayboro Harbor was renovated with both state and community support. The public unveiling occurred March 10, 1982, and to commemorate its 24th anniversary, the Salvador Dalí Museum hosts DalíFest Community Celebration. Occurring in the waterfront park adjacent to the museum, this year's event features family-friendly arts and crafts, magic by Christopher Oz, and live music courtesy of Gravy, Irritable Tribe without Poets and Bogus Pomp, a popular Zappa tribute band. Sat., March 25, 11 a.m.-8 p.m., 1000 Third St. S., St. Petersburg, $7 reduced museum admission (children under 12 enter free), 800-442-3254, www.salvadordalimuseum.org.
This article appears in Mar 22-28, 2006.
