Who would give up a Valentine’s Day at Academy, filled with sweets, sweets, and more sweets?
Mrs. Clara Sager’s two Spanish III Honors classes did just that, spending the day away from school on Tuesday, February 14, to tour the Dali Museum in St. Petersburg, now into its second year at its new location that opened in January of 2011. Chaperoning the group were Mrs. Clara Sager, Mrs. Camille Jowanna, Ms. Sylvia Muzquiz, Ms. Kerry Keegan, and Ms. Maureen Kearney.
At the museum, the girls divided into groups for a docent-led tour that provided not only a better understanding about Dali’s art but about his life and how it integrates with his art. After the tour of the museum, the girls spent time outside in the Avant Garden, which includes examples of the golden rectangle and golden spiral, based on the Fibonacci sequence, found in natural forms. In this garden is the tree on which visitors traditionally hang their admittance bracelets.
The girls also took time to admire the all-glass Enigma, which is composed of 1,062 glass triangles. According to the Dali curators, “It is the only structure of its kind and size in the United States. The panes are cleaned by climbers who can bolt into anchors built into the metal grid holding the glass, then ascend with buckets of soap and water.”
The class closed their visit with a photo in front of the museum’s giant mustache structure, a trademark of the artist, before heading to the famous Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City. Academy visitors received their own private room and dined on a delicious meal of Columbia-baked bread and butter, salad, their choice of chicken and rice or boliche, and flan. Junior Angelina Oliva also offered her talented singing voice for entertainment. The class joined Angelina in singing Spanish tunes they have learned at school.
After lunch, Spanish III Honors headed back to Academy for dismissal, impacted by the art and architecture of the museum and how together they represent the unique perspective of Dali and his singular talent for communicating this perspective.
