THE DALI THING was a thing while it lasted, but the Monterey History and Art Association’s Stanton Center is now returning to its roots.
Yay!
I love the Monterey History and Art Association and the Stanton Center because their very existence always seemed to mirror the folly of my own dreams and aspirations, my own failures and identity crises. Like me, the museum has had high-brow aspirations without much of a clue about how high to brow. While it mines its creative soul with an expectation that hordes of admirers will eagerly embrace its cultivated vision of art, culture and history, the candy-by-the-bucket store across the street usually gets all the attention. I know exactly how that feels.
Not that there’s anything wrong with the candy stores of Fisherman’s Wharf. But it does seem as though the Stanton Center would more easily find its financial footing if it started renting surreys and e-bikes by the hour.
Meanwhile, the association does a lot of other good things in the community, things that don’t involve trying to solve the vexing problem that is the Stanton Center. For instance, I’ve always been fond of La Merienda, the annual celebration of Monterey’s founding. It’s a sweet (if not archaic) tradition, even with all those grubby politicians tending the grills. And the MHAA’s Mayo Hayes O'Donnell Library is always worth a visit.
Anyway, turning the Stanton Center over to Salvador Dali seemed like a good idea at the time, back in 2017. The MHAA, desperate for a change of pace, had found an obsessive Dali collector looking to show off his collection of prints. So, sure. Why not? Nothing else seemed to be working.
Dali was fine, in his quirky way. But, in the end, the average Monterey visitor didn’t seem much interested in smirking surrealism. It turned out the Dali vibe wasn’t as vibrant as everyone expected. So Dali ran its course and the museum found itself in the same rut it was in before all the melting clocks.
Which happily brings us to Square One. The association is back to featuring a range of artists with local connections. It is now featuring the regional classics, like Armin Hansen, Paul Whitman and Jo Mora, along with a handful of local artists who are still breathing and working. Dali’s spirit remains in the place, but it’s over in a corner somewhere, away from the impressionists, the graphic artists and polite society.
And who knows? The Stanton Center might still struggle, but at least the MHAA is back to its roots and keeping it 831.
Welcome back, Stanton Center. I hope things work out.
— Joe Livernois
Illustration featured is a pen and ink drawing from Budgee Budgee Cottontail, written and illustrated by Jo Mora, courtesy the Jo Mora Collection.