Physics (Math) and Art

While presenting at an NCTM conference, "The Connection Between Mathematics and Modern Art", in Charlotte, NC considering the Salvador Dali masterpiece, "The Persistence of Memory", I declared that Dali like Picasso gave no credence to any influences on his genius. In the audience sat a mathematics professor from Brown University who corrected me and/or Dali by recalling that he was acquainted with many mathematians at her school. Most likely their discussions involved modern mathematics. By some coincidence my wife at her hair salon today found a copy of "Life" magazine, October 15, 1945. The "Letters to the Editors" column contained a letter from Dali refuting a previous letter that asserted that "Persistence" contained a saddle and Dali's subconscious love of horse racing. Dali's retort: "NEVER IN MY ENTIRE LIFE HAVE I ATTENDED A HORSE RACE STOP I PAINTED THE LIMP WATCHES WHILE PONDERING THE THEORY OF RELATIVITY.... I guess Dali had the last word for all of us.