| Issue #21 - August 15, 2008 |
Honoring the Artist: Walter Bernard 
While this is a landmark year in the history of the Artists/Writers Softball Game, ( its 60th anniversary ), graphic artist and long-time player Walter Bernard continues his normal pace as a busy professional, filmmaker and grandfather to two-year-old twin girls. He's also the long- time designer of our cover each year for the Artists/Writers Softball Game.
Q: Sixty years for the Artists/Writers Game. Sort of like our own Olympics. I mean that in the sense that we have a great tradition and values, too. Maybe I'm overstating the case.
A: The game was started in 1948 at Sunday picnics, and artists like de Kooning and Pollock played, according to the history. In the early 1970s, Leif Hope started the game as a charity; Elaine Benson was the manger for the artists.
Q: There are many ususual things about the game, but one thing is the charitable aspect.
A: Yes. Unlike a lot of events for charity, 100% of the proceeds go to our charities: East End Hospice, East Hampton Day Care, and Phoenix House.
Q:Besides the 60th anniversary of the game, there's something else special about this year's event; I mean the cover.
A: It's commemorating Roy Scheider, someone who played for a long time. He was voted "Most Valuable Player" in 2006 or 2007. I can't remember which. He also played every Saturday morning at our long-standing games during the year.
Q: I love how you have represented him on the cover, with arms raised over his head, in a Rocky-like pose. Where did that come from?
A: It was a photograph; I believe his wife, Brenda, took it.
Q: You gave us a picture of Roy that not many people saw, certainly not his fans. How would you describe Roy's role in the games? How would you characterize him when he was playing?
A: At our Saturday games, for example, he was always extremely friendly, enthusiastic, knew everyone's name; he always pitched. We looked forward to his being there.
Q: What draws people to baseball? Why was it imporant to you?
A: We learn from our parents. At least I did. My father was a baseball fan, and I'd play "catch" with him.
Q: There are so many memories connected with that. The same was true with my own father and me., but I'm really not good at athletics. Speaking of memories, the film you did with your art group about Sandra Day O'Connor, Portraits of a Lady, will serve as a potent reminder of her service. It's going to be broadcast on Showtime on September 11. That date is one ultimate memory as well. How would you describe Justice O'Connor?
A: I had never met her before we did the film. I had no idea what she'd be like. We didn't know that she would get involved in the project like she did. She interacted with all the artists; she relaxed everyone, told funny stories.
Q: We all look forward to seeing the program.
A: Me, too.
- Marion Wolberg Weiss
Potraits of a Lady will air on Cinemax on September 11 at 7:30 p.m.
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