University of Virginia Library

Dali On Display

Any member of the University community
who hasn't dropped by the Visitors'
Lounge of Newcomb Hall to see the Art-in-Jewels
collection designed by Salvador
Dali should do so before the exhibition
closes this Friday. While jewel displays
or Mr. Dali may not be to everyone's
taste, the ingenuity of the artist in creating
the thirty-some pieces makes a visit worthwhile.

Mr. Dali sees himself in the Renaissance
tradition of Cellini in uniting the craftsmanship
of the jeweler with the imagination
of the artist. Although the Dali jewels
are not as well made as Cellini's works
or, say, the Faberge pieces in the Virginia
Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond,
they are amusing and intriguing, from
the classic Dali "melting watch" to the bird-legged
"Space Elephant."

The Owen Cheatham Foundation, and
Mrs. Cheatham in particular, are to be
congratulated for their generosity and cooperation
in helping the University Union
present the display in Charlottesville. Special
credit goes to Union President Jeff Harris,
who is responsible for initiating the steps
that brought the jewels here. We are pleased
to see that any funds collected from the
gala opening last week and from non student
admissions fees will be split between
the Union's Fine Arts Committee
and the University's Fine Arts Library.