Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1254473
"The scenery of the Monterey Peninsula area reminded Dali of the region of Spain he lived in," says Pebble Beach historian Neal Hotelling, "and that made him feel at home." The famous ar tist was instantly recognizable, due in large par t to his signature flamboyant mous- tache, and another attraction to the Monterey Peninsula was that— then as now—the locals were inured to famous faces and gener- ally didn't hound him for a conver- sation or autograph. That left him free to work. And work he did. It's estimated that dur- ing his many visits of varying lengths between 1941 and 1948, Dali pro- duced 10 to 115 paintings per year and among other endeavors worked on two books, designed sets and costumes for two ballets and initiated a collaboration with Walt Disney that culminated in the intriguing animated short "Destino." Most Peninsula residents are aware of the par ty Dali threw known as "A Surrealist Night in an Enchanted Forest." Staged at the Hotel Del Monte (a luxury resort now home to the Naval Postgraduate School), the fete was conceived as a fundraiser to benefit artists displaced and impoverished by the war raging in Europe. On Photo: AFP/ Getty Images (Top) Dali also tried his hand at writing. One of his manu- scripts was discovered in the Pebble Beach Company archives. (Below) The Monterey Peninsula reminded Dali of his native Spain. 92 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 2 0 Photo: Julian P. Graham photograph courtesy Pebble Beach Company Lagorio Archives