Hello–Dali?

I have to get another root canal. That’s the bad news. But the good news is I can hallucinate during the procedure without the aid of Novocaine. I have my choice of dozens of Dali prints to provide me plenty of psychedelic distraction.

Dr. John Aivaz (pronounced “Avis”), D.D.S, MMSc, Endodontics Dentistry, of 5175 E. Pacific Coast Hwy, Suite 405, Long Beach, California 90804, has the largest collection of Salvador Dali prints in the world outside a museum. In his waiting room, in his office, up and down his halls, and in every patient’s room–Dali.

For instance, the picture above is one of Dali’s signature “melting clocks.” (Officially, it’s “The Persistence of Memory.”)

One of the paintings seemed to be Dali’s equivalent of Edvard Munch’s “Scream.” (I didn’t go in the room to photograph it because there was someone, probably in a state of hysterical paralysis, lying in the chair beneath it). Wouldn’t you like to be gazing at that one while Dr. Aivaz drilled through and packed things into the depths of your jaw?

Here are some of my favorites. I love the little sailor boy absorbing this scene. By the way, you won’t find the moon in any other copy of this painting; it was a reflection of the ceiling light in Dr. Aivaz’ waiting room:

This one should be called “Oops.” I think it’s meant to be St. George slaying the dragon but he kind of missed, pierced the dragon’s jaw (not a lethal wound) and cracked the paving below. His horse’s eyes are saying, “I didn’t see a thing.”

I love these aery creatures that are a cross between horses (or elephants) and Daddy long legs. I think the makers of the movie “Up” must have been influenced by Dali.

Is the man in the corner holding up a cross to indicate enthusiastic approval or claim divine protection from the oncoming circus?

Here’s a powerful image. Give yourself time with it:

An angel leading the Crusades–while a man pulls the ship across land?

Each Dali brings me up short. I find myself saying, “This looks like it symbolizes–” and then, “–something.”

I asked Dr. Aivaz which was his favorite. He said, “I try not to have a favorite.” Then he said, “This one.” He pointed to a striking scene which I photographed but can’t show you because it contains a reclining nude. In an arc over her was a bayonet pointing at her breast from the end of a rifle. Following the rifle was a leaping tiger, coming from the mouth of another leaping tiger, coming from the mouth of a large piranha, coming from the inside of a pomegranate.

I found the following piece moving. It has a totally different feel, more subdued, sadder, more thought-provoking. Figures, almost ghosts–maybe symbolizing generation after generation–at the Wailing Wall.

And a badger? Can’t you be serious for one minute, Sal?

Jerry is not impressed. In the room where the inside of my mouth is the focus of attention for everyone but me, he is in a corner out of the way, calmly doing a Sudoku.