Dan's Papers - August 17, 2007 - Honoring the Artist: Walter Bernard

There are many traditions honored each year in the Hamptons, including the Artists and Writers Game. And just as you can't have the Artists without the Writers, you also can't have the cover of Dan's Papers without its annual creator, Walter Bernard.

And in case you didn't know it, Mr. Bernard is also a longtime player for the Artists' team, pointing out with a laugh that his side has lost the last two years. Even so, the team is lucky to have him as a man committed to the charities that the game helps fund. The following conversation proves that Mr. Bernard is committed to his family and profession as well.

Q: Give us an update since last year when we talked. Let's start with personal things, like your family and particularly your twin granddaughters, Scarlett and Orly. Orly is a Hebrew name, right?

A: Yes, and it's also French. They are 16 months old, and my wife and I come out to Sag Harbor each weekend in the summers from New York to help out.

Q: Everyone should have such good grandparents. How about your recent professional pursuits?

A: We just finished a 40-minute documentary with Sandra Day O' Connor for HBO. We wanted to do a film about this portrait group I'm involved with, started 50 years ago by Aaron Shikler (who did JFK's portrait for the White House) and David Levine. We decided to ask former Supreme Court Judge O'Connor to pose for us, so we have 25 portraits of her. We got lucky as far as a subject goes; she's funny, feisty and a good sport.

Q: What did you learn when you interviewed her that surprised you?

A: Did you know she's in the "Cowgirl Hall of Fame?" She grew up on a ranch and wrote a book about her adventures.

Q: Now on to something entirely different - the upcoming Artists and Writers Game on August 18. Tell us about the cover first. How is it different from previous years?

A: I used watercolor to create an impressionistic mood, which means no detail but gestural touches instead. There are 13 or 14 figures playing baseball; the men are in shadows, giving the impression of fantasy.

Q: Was your inspiration the film, Field of Dreams, with Kevin Cosner?

A: No, it was from a work Milton Glazer had done 30 years ago.

Q: Why the watercolor? And did you research the players' poses?

A: Watercolor is more spontaneous, and it's fun. I've been working with it for three or four years. About the poses, I did research on the players' actions. A few are real players like the shortstop, Ozzie Smith.

Q: You also designed this year's shirts and hats again.

A: Yes, all to benefit East End Hospice, East Hampton Day Care Center and Phoenix House. No money goes out to the staff. After expenses, the money collected goes to the charities. We also have a 28-page program this year.

Q: I'm curious about one thing concerning the game itself. How in the world can you all play in the heat?

A: The younger people play the whole game. We older players go one or two innings.

Q: I bet you could play the whole game; after all you play on a team every Saturday morning as it is. And by the way, I hope the artists win this year.