www.daliatucla.com "Stillness of
Time" is one of several works by Salvador Dali on display in UCLA’s
Ackerman Grand Ballroom starting July 14. This is the largest
exhibit of Dali works ever shown in L.A.
By Garrett Spooner
Daily Bruin Contributor
Saturday evening will be filled with firsts, as the worlds of
art, science and education converge in Ackerman Grand Ballroom.
“A Surreal Soiree,” a fund-raising reception for the
UCLA Medical Center which opens an exhibit of approximately 650
works by Spanish modern artist Salvador Dali, constitutes the first
time a collection this large has been shown in Southern California,
and is the first fund-raiser of this type for the Medical
Center.
A portion of the proceeds from the sale of both opening night
tickets and some artwork will benefit pediatric genetic research at
Mattel Children’s Hospital at UCLA.
“It is a very worthy cause. It’s a myth that all our
funding comes from the state. We appreciate all the help we can
get,” said Dr. Stephen Cederbaum, head of pediatric research
at the hospital.
He and his team of specialists conduct research on the cause and
treatment of genetic diseases in children.
 www.daliatucla.com The painting
“Metamorphose” by Salvador Dali is among those on
display on campus. The two-week exhibition and sale will kick off
with an opening night gala that benefits their research team. A
buffet dinner will be provided for attendees as they mingle among
the 500 works available for sale. The asking price for the works
ranges from $7,500 to more than $250,000.
Although Dali is best known for his surrealist work, the exhibit
will not be restricted to paintings in that genre. Other styles and
media are also included.
“He was more than just a surrealist.” said Bruce
Hochman, director of the Salvador Dali Gallery in Pacific
Palisades. Featuring the artist’s efforts in artistic genres
beyond surrealism, the event presents him in a broader context.
“He could do anything,” Hochman said. “Some of
his other (non-surrealist) work holds the most meaning for
me.”
With sculptures, prints, etchings and murals on display, Hochman
hopes this exhibit will introduce more of the public to the talent
and craft of the Spanish artist.
The unique event is the brainchild of private fund-raiser Terri
Mandell.
Mandell’s original concept was for an art exhibit held in
Ackerman, featuring a collection from the gallery at which she
works, without the fundraising aspect. When informed that all
events held at UCLA facilities must be associated with the
university, she said she saw the opportunity to transform her idea
for a gallery showing into a benefit for the children’s
hospital.
“My son receives treatment at the medical center,”
she said. Her son suffers from a terminal illness called
Melachronatic Leukodystrophy.
This intimate association with Mattel Children’s Hospital
at UCLA inspired Mandell to approach the University with the unique
proposition for a combination fund-raiser and art exhibit.
Capitalizing on her relationship with the gallery and the
Medical Center, she mobilized these resources in an effort to
enhance the available care for children and families facing the
devastating challenge of childhood disease.
Cederbaum said he was excited to learn of Mandell’s
efforts and would be grateful to see the exhibition become a
bi-annual event.
With the Medical Center recently converting from a
state-supported to a state-assisted institution, funding has been
scarce. State funding accounts for only 20 percent of the
Children’s Hospital’s budget and the contributions of
private donors are significant in the hospital’s ability to
continue in its field of study.
“Pediatric research is dependent upon the value society
gives to it,” Cederbaum said. “Doctors, just like
artists, require patronage.”
ART: “A Surreal Soiree” takes place
July 14 in Ackerman Grand Ballroom. Tickets for the event are $100.
For the rest of the exhibit’s run, general admission is $7
and student admission is $4. For more information call (310)
825-2101 or order tickets online at www.tickets.ucla.edu.