Amanda Pretlow- Dali

I was in the library one day looking through a book of paintings by my favorite artist: Salvador Dali. He was a surreal artist whose art evolved into a collection of the most bizarre and thought-provoking works of his generation. Dali was not particularly religious until after World War II (he began to embrace Roman Catholicism). However, it could be said that art itself is a sort of religion for some artists. The strangeness of Dali's works seeped into his everyday life. He was always described as a strange man and was even criticized for his eccentricities by other prominent figures during the time (namely, George Orwell). Looking at his art, there seems to be something spiritual about them. In my experience, painting (or creating any type of art) is a spiritual experience. The artist pours every ounce of his or her soul into what he or she is creating. Van der Leeuw says of dance that experience is necessary for understanding. However, I think the same is partially true for painting. Only the artist knows the meaning of his or her painting. In creating their art, the artist assumes the role of "creator." This status brings the artist closer to God merely by raising them to the level of "creator." The artist experiences the love that God felt while creating existence. The artist creates a new piece of existence or attempt to recreate standing existence and becomes the god of the work of art. The spiritual experience is shared on the other end also; the observer of the art is also able to share in the spiritual experience. When I look at a piece of art by Salvador Dali, I find something new each time. Every piece of the work expresses a different emotion and puts me in an state of complete awe. Even the art of Dali, which was often described as profane and vulgar, can incited inspiration, awe, and spirituality in both the artist and the audience.