| Issue #02 - April 4, 2008 |
Honoring the Artist: Daniel Pollera
Looking at this week's cover by Daniel Pollera gives us a comforting feeling as familiar objects and settings come to life. Yet a second glance reveals (as with almost all of the artist's work) a sense of contradiction: the juxtaposition of vertical and horizontal lines in the foreground conveys enclosure; the background communicates the expanding sea. It's as if some source is drawing our entire being out to the horizon.
In the many conversations I've had with Mr. Pollera over the years, the spiritual meaning of his work rarely surfaces. Instead, he talks with enthusiasm about his family, home and love of painting. This time he concentrates on his creative process.
Q: The cover is called "The Hamlet." It's a real place, but where is it?
A: It's from a photograph I took of the hamlet of Orient, looking west toward Greenport. You know, we rent a house in Southold each year, and I take long drives to discover new places. By the way, the cover is owned by Shep and Linda Schinberg. They would be pleased to know I mentioned this.
Q: When you take these drives, wherever they may be, what's your intention?
A: Each area has its own aura. I try to seek and find that aura. I try and see what some other people don't. I take a lot of daytrips, to spend the day by myself.
Q: (laughing) Except when you take your poodle along with you on the boat. I know you create paintings from life, although you may add some images and elements. But there's always that sense of strong lighting, shadows and composition. Recently, however, you are making up images that don't exist.
A: That's right. The important thing is to create an emotional feeling.
Q: Any other new directions besides creating images that don't exist?
A: It's good to try different things, to change, to be fresh. The one big change is that I'm working with oil. This is my second year for that. You don't have as much control with oils; it allows me to loosen up. But oil can surprise you. I'm also using more intense colors. I can get more moods that way.
Q: How does it feel to experiment like this?
A: It takes guts. You may fail along the way. Sometimes you make a mistake. You learn. I'm figuring it out along the way.
- Marion Wolberg Weiss
Mr. Pollera's work can be seen at Southampton's Chrysalis Gallery. Mr. Pollera's website is www.danielpollera.com
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