The Third Perspective

I was at a Dali art exhibit when it happened. Many of Dali's paintings have two perspectives. There is the obvious foreground, which you immediately see, and then there is a second perspective which if you look just right you see a totally different thing. The foreground might be a mountain and the second perspective a dog, or the foreground a bunch of human figures and the second perspective a scull. Well I was looking very intently at a particular painting switching my perspective from one to another when suddenly, I saw a third perspective. There superimposed upon the other two perspectives, in the reflection in the glass covering the painting was the face of Susan, the woman who was with me and also viewing the painting. I became completely absorbed in the moment, in the vision. Even though I was in a room full of people also viewing the exhibit they all disappeared, I heard no sound, saw nothing but the image of Susan imposed upon the painting. For a moment time stood still. Then someone brushed against me and the experience shattered and I returned to my surroundings. Sometimes there are more things to see if you open your mind.

Larry Mixson May 5, 2000