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Honoring the Artist: Cuca Romley
This week's cover artist, Cuco Romley, has a particular penchant for trees. And while she grew up in Madrid and Paris where trees are scarce, she got lucky when she moved across the street from Central Park in New York. Residing in Sag Harbor these last several years has given Ms. Romley a decided advantage where trees are once more a part of her everyday environment. Winter is a special time for both Ms. Romley and trees. (Consider that she named her art gallery, The Winter Tree.)
Q: I notice that the cover features maple syrup time and lots of trees. But it's winter now and you're doing a painting of Guild Hall. All the trees are bare. Why not wait until Spring?
A: I like the trees in winter. Besides, when there are leaves on the branches, you can't see the buildings. In the summer, trees hide things. I find trees are beautiful. I'm painting them like a maniac.
Q: What else attracted you to Guild Hall?
A: I had never painted this part of Main Street. I also wanted to do Guild Hall because it doesn't involve stores in East Hampton, which come and go. I also discovered Clinton Academy across the street from Guild Hall. It's one of the oldest buildings around.
Q: Is winter an isolating time for you?
A: No, it's the only time I can paint. The rest of the year, I am running a gallery. I live in a house in the middle of Main Street in Sag Harbor, not in the middle of the woods where I would feel isolated. I have a comfortable environment. Music is playing in the background; I don't even cook. People come to visit me on the weekends. I love it. I can focus on my work.
Q: You also like to discover places in the Hamptons that you didn't know existed.
A: Yes, I get in my car and explore. For example, I ended up in a seaport in Southampton a few days ago.
Q: If you go farther, where would you travel to?
A: I would travel to China to paint. It's changing a lot. And I wouldn't go on a tour, but travel on bus, train, whatever. I am reading an interesting book about the country, China Road.
Q: I know you've mentioned in the past that you also liked Sante Fe because of its architecture, and San Francisco. Would you move there?
A: I don't see myself there. I see myself passing by. I would find myself criticizing new places. That's normal, since you see things differently than the people who live there. I don't belong to any one place. I belong to all places.
Q: You are a "Woman of the World."
A: Yes. I love the whole planet; I love how nature is organized. It's a pity we have destroyed the planet. As the Native Americans believe, we don't own anything. We think we control the earth, but we don't.
- Marion Wolberg Weiss
The Winter Tree Gallery (125 Main Street, Sag Harbor) will be hosting a reception with mulled wine on Saturday and Sunday, March 8 and 9. Call 631-725-0097 for details.
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