Honoring the Artist: Cuca Romley

It's always a pleasure to visit Cuca Romley, this week's cover artist, at her charming, historic row house on Main Street in Sag Harbor. Considering the history that surrounds her, it's no wonder that Ms. Romley is attracted to capturing the past on canvas. The nostalgia, which the cover evokes, is a case in point, although it's based on a recent village parade.

The following conversation took place in Ms. Romley's office across the hall from her gallery's (The Winter Tree) exhibition space.

The entire upper floor, where she lives, resembles a gallery, in fact, the walls filled with Ms. Romley's own paintings, self-crafted furniture and jewelry.

Despite Ms. Romley's penchant for the past, she admits that she doesn't look back hoping to not repeat the past.

Q: You've had quite a summer at The Winter Tree, showing antique motorcycles, which is quite unusual, planning the first Sag Harbor Art Festival, organizing your next show with Barbara Hadden and Jean Holabird, and, when you have time, painting. Where do you get your ideas for all these activities?

A: I always have ideas. What I don't have is the time to do them all.

Q: Winter is coming. After a busy summer, is the winter difficult?

A: Here, you have to survive the winter. I paint in the winter, and last December I went to Brazil on vacation to be with my daughter who was there on vacation also.

Q: During the winter, do you ever think of going back to Spain where you were raised or Paris where you lived?

A: No. I do have some of my relatives still living in Spain, but I was the only family member to leave and start a new life in America.I don't look back.

Q: You must miss something about Europe.

A: Yes, I miss the food and the fact that distances are not a big thing. Here you have to travel for seven hours to get to Maine.

Q: What is it that attracted you to Sag Harbor after living in Europe and then New York? You've had The Winter Tree for five years now. Is it the architecture here that you like? Some houses date back to the 1600s, although that's not old compared to Europe.

A: I like the architectural style here, but I like nature most of all, especially in America. But we may be messing up the planet. And, of course, I love painting.

Q: How important is your painting?

A: If I didn't have work (painting) I would be lost. I'm used to not having my family around; my daughter lives in California. So painting is my life. I want to paint more seriously, but I had to limit myself to the space I had. Now I have a studio on the top floor so I can make larger paintings.

Q: I'm sure you will still have a respect for the past even if you do larger canvases.

A: Yes, I respect the past; I want to be a witness to what's left. I do my best.

- Marion Wolberg Weiss

Call The Winter Tree for more information at 631-725-0097.

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