10 April 6-12, 2023 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com New Times | music | cafe | culture | Night+Day | news | letters | contents | How Bizarre “Surreal 360” brings more than 200 Dalí pieces to Miami. BY CHRISTINE BORGES V an Gogh. Monet. Sitting in a crowded room with world-fa- mous works of art projected on white walls. Zooming in to irises and starry nights and brush-stroked waterlilies. That’s what we’re used to in Miami. Now it’s time to forget everything you know about immersive experiences. When it comes to Salvador Dalí, things are done dif- ferently. They’re surreal. Cue “Surreal 360: a Salvador Dalí Experi- ence.” Sure, it’s at Ice Palace Studios — like many other immersive experiences in years past. But that’s where the similarities end. This surreal experience combines four el- ements: original artworks, augmented reality (AR), a multisensory sculptural experience, and a surreal painting room — and it’s all done by not only exploring Dalí’s subcon- scious but maybe yours as well. “Here we have more than 200 original art- works, which wasn’t the situation [for the other immersive experiences],” says Santiago Buitriago, a consultant for Ice Palace Studios and spokesperson for “Surreal 360,” who also worked on the van Gogh and Monet immer- sive experiences. “The other exhibits were just the immersive room. That was it. But we have paintings and sculptures, and at the end of it, we have this immersive room, and we also have a virtual reality room.” In true Dalí fashion, things get a little in- teresting and stray from your standard mu- seum exhibition. Before entering the exhibit, you’re advised to download the Surreal 360 app (available both on Apple’s App Store and Google Play). As you enter, you’re guided by the docents to open the app and scan works of art — 40 of them in all — tagged with a large eye icon. The art comes to life on your phone’s screen when you do. Paint drips from canvases, snakes fight, and stars shine — Dalí for the digital age. “It’s really cool,” Buitriago adds. “It’s like being able to see the painting alive.” The works throughout span many of Dalí’s well-known — as well as lesser-known — series, from “Don Quixote” and “Conquest of the Cosmos” to “Objects of the Future,” the Ten Commandment sculptures, silver medals, plates, and more. And there is even a reproduction of the infamous Mae West couch Dalí designed — complete with eyes gazing upon the sitter from TVs — serving as a selfie spot before you enter the first room. You’ll see artwork dedicated to his muse and wife, Gala, surreal nudes, and even the illustrious melting clocks — and many of these pieces you’ve likely never seen before, as they are all on loan from the private Shanahan Collection. The Shanahan Collection started to take form in the year 2000 through the ini- tiative of Santiago Shanahan, an enthu- siast of the artist, to create a traveling exhibit to publicize Dalí’s work, immortalizing the Catalonian genius in all his facets as a writer, set designer, pro- ducer, director, designer, inventor, decorator, muralist, architect, craftsman, sculptor, musi- cian, scholar and teacher. While many of Dalí’s masterpieces can be found in museums in St. Petersburg, Florida, and Figueres, Spain, the pieces on display at Ice Palace are still worth a visit, if for their rarity alone. There’s even a lithograph of Lin- coln in Dalivision, with what looks like a Fres- nel lens placed in front to experience the piece in a new way. The original piece, titled Gala Contemplating the Mediterranean Sea, which at a distance of 20 meters is transformed into the portrait of Abraham Lincoln (Homage to Rothko), takes up a whole wall. But the real draw is perhaps the multisen- sory experience. At the end of the exhibit, you’re guided to a room painted white from floor to ceiling, along with two benches and four sculptures. And that’s when the magic happens. During the 15-minute show, paint strokes are projected on the floors and walls as ethereal music drips out of the speakers. A desert appears with Dalí’s infamous melting clock as the centerpiece. You’re taken under- water with Dalíesque creatures. You’re taken to another planet, where purple mountains and a desolate landscape are surrounded by eggs growing on trees. The exhibit also includes a series of photo- graphs produced by Enrique Sabater, Dalí’s private secretary and right-hand man who accompanied the artist around the globe. He was also Salvador and Gala’s photographer in their personal space, capturing images of their familial intimacy and offering a differ- ent view of the surrealist master. Overall, the exhibition takes about two hours to experience, with timed admission to ensure you don’t have the typical crowded museum experience — which adds to the ex- perience. “I feel like there’s never been something like this before, you know, a surreal experi- ence, as the saying goes,” Buitriago says. “The thing is being able to see everything together in one place — original paintings, original sculptures, augmented reality, an immersive room, virtual reality. We try to do the best of every single exhibit in one.” “Surreal 360: a Salvador Dalí Experience.” Ice Palace Studios West Building, 71 NW 14th St., Miami; surreal-360.com. Tickets cost $20 to $44. Tuesday through Sunday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. ▼ Culture The latest immersive experience looks at the work of surrealist master Salvador Dalí. Surreal 360 photo “IT’S REALLY COOL. IT’S LIKE BEING ABLE TO SEE THE PAINTING ALIVE.” Hop Into Fun The five best kid-friendly Easter events. BY LUIS GOMEZ I t’s Easter egg hunting season. Time for the young’uns to fend for themselves and search for eggs, armed with baskets and their hunt- ing prowess. The strongest scavengers will reap the most candy-filled rewards, as nature intended. The weakest? Don’t feel too bad for them. There are plenty of eggs to go around. And be- sides, egg hunts are only part of the festivities. Most Easter events offer several other activities and an appearance from a certain fuzzy bunny. But which are the best Easter events for kids in Miami? New Times has got you covered. Egg-Venture at Zoo Miami You use your smartphone for almost everything these days, and it only makes sense to use it to find Easter eggs as well. Zoo Miami’s virtual scav- enger hunt requires you to follow the clues on the Eventzee mobile app and complete six of 12 mis- sions for prizes. Visit the zoo Easter weekend, and you’ll also be able to watch animals such as pygmy hippos and African elephants receive Easter-themed goodies of their own. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Through Sunday, April 9, at Zoo Miami, 12400 SW 152nd St., Miami; 305-255-5551; zoom- iami.org. Tickets cost $18.95 to $22.95. Glow in the Dark Egg Hunt at Tinez Farms Once the sun goes down, this egg hunt gets turnt up. Kids can search for glow-in-the-dark eggs at night and then let loose at Tinez Farm’s dance party. And yes, even the Easter Bunny makes a rare nighttime appearance. 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturdays through April 8 at Tinez Farms,16405 SW 177th Ave., Miami; 786-816- 3474; tinezfarms.com. Tickets cost $19 to $22. Easter Egg-Venture at Miami Seaquarium An egg scavenger hunt has replaced the Seaquar- ium’s traditional egg hunt. Participants will receive a map with clues that will help them find five des- ignated locations. Those who get their map punched at all five locations will score an Easter goodie bag. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 8, and Sunday, April 9, at Miami Seaquarium, 4400 Rick- enbacker Cswy., Miami; 305-361-5705; miam- iseaquarium.com. Tickets cost $29.99 to $49.99. Easter Day Eggstravaganza at Partners Park Eggs will once again go airborne at this tenth- annual Easter event. Eggstravaganza will feature a helicopter egg drop, as has become tradition, as well as egg-toss games. Expect rides, food trucks, and live music as well. The first 500 chil- dren registered receive Easter baskets. Noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, April 9, at Partners Park, 5536 NW 21st Ave., Miami; t5miami.org. Admission is free; all-access wristbands for rides cost $10 to $15 via eventbrite.com. Easter at the Youth Fair Celebrate Easter Sunday at the Miami-Dade Youth Fair with egg hunts for the little ones and pictures with the Easter Bunny. It is also the final day of this year’s Youth Fair, so get one last tur- key leg and Observation Wheel ride before the event closes up shop. Noon Sunday, April 9, at the Miami-Dade Fairgrounds, 10901 Coral Way, Miami; 305-223-7060; thefair.me. Tickets cost $12 to $16; kids 5 and under and seniors 65 and older get in free. Unlimited rides pass is $35 to $40. [email protected] T5 Foundation photo Eggstravaganza at Partners Park will feature a helicopter egg drop.
