Honoring the Artist: Daniel Pollera

by Marion Wolberg Weiss

Ask cover artist Daniel Pollera a seemingly simple question, and you won't get a simple answer. In his worldview, life is not black or white but rather a wide range of grays.

Because he's a particularly thoughtful person, Pollera uses questions as springboards to examine other facets of life. His substantive answers are also an indication of his character and values.

Q: I want to ask you a series of what some people may consider mostly silly questions. Somehow I know you won't perceive them as silly. First, if you could eat the same food for the rest of your life, what would it be?

A: Pasta, without a doubt. With all kinds of toppings: pesto, fresh tomatoes from the garden, crab and clam sauce.

Q: Would you cook this yourself?

A: I don't have time to cook now. I'm fixing up a house in East Quoque as I talked about last time I was on the cover. It's my mission. This weekend we're putting on a deck. We're having guests from Australia coming soon, and they will be able to stay there.

Q: If you had a million dollars, what would you do with it?

A: Nothing more than I'm doing now. Even if I had $10 million. I'm pretty satisfied with my life. Lots of people are making lots of money, and they're miserable.

Q: If you could live anyplace in the world, where would it be?

A: I paint the coast, and if you love the water, this is the place. We have it all here. We have the greatest restaurants and medical care; we have the water at our fingertips.

Q: If you could have one wish to make the world better, what would it be?

A: I would wish for world peace. Look at what's happening with North Korea. Peace is out of our control, but we can't think about it too much. We have to concentrate on happy thoughts.

Q: If you weren't an artist what would you be?

A: I would operate a charter boat. I also like woodworking, but not for a profession.

Q: If you could go back to school, what would you study?

A: Art; I would take every course in art history and studio. I'd also like to study psychology and economics.

Q: If you could teach your grandchildren something, what would it be?

A: My daughter learned a lot of family values from my mother. My daughter has a strong backbone; she keeps the family together. I would help her with those values with her own children.

Q: If you could make a prediction for the future, what would it be?

A: When we talked last time, I said we would be better off financially in the near future. We will look back on February, 2009, and it will only be a memory.

Q: If someone asks you what you want for dinner, what would you say?

A: I would say, what do you want? A meal is a joint thing. Then I would crack open a bottle of wine.

Q: I'll drink to that.

A: Me, too.

Pollera's work is on view at Southampton's Chrysalis Gallery. His Web site is www.danielpollera.com

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