INTERVIEW: Artist Dalton Portella On “Inside Out” At Boo-Hooray Summer Rental And More

Over Labor Day weekend, Boo-Hooray Summer Rental in Montauk will debut Dalton Portella: Inside Out, a collection of figure studies by the legendary local surfer, musician and interdisciplinary artist.

We recently caught up with Portella to learn more:

She Sheds A Tear.

Tell us a bit about your latest works.

DP: The abstracts are about bringing my experience and inner emotions to the surface while exploring form color and composition. The figure studies capture what lurks below the surface of the images projected to the world, some are referenced from Instagram selfies, some are models I’ve worked with.

As a Montaukian, what does it mean to you to exhibit at Boo-Hooray Summer Rental?

DP: I respect the artists they’ve shown and am honored to be included.

What led you to Montauk?

DP: I was in high school in Brazil when I first saw a picture of Montauk in a surf magazine in 1975. I never imagined that New York had surf and never expected to live in a city. I was passing through New York on my way to California when I decided to show my work to the Dean at Parsons School of Design, I got accepted on the spot and got a job and a place to live on the same day. I saved for a year, bought a car and drove to Montauk in 1980. I eventually bought a house and moved here full-time on 9/11/2001.

Are you working on anything at the moment?

DP: Always. I’ve got a new series of drawings that will become paintings of a figure falling. I’m also working on writing some new music and learning a tune written by Luiz Gonzaga in 1947, I was told I needed to do a few cover tunes so I’m working on a Scottish bagpipe tune as well.

Has living in Montauk influenced your work?

DP: Yes. I have an extensive series of work inspired by Montauk, both photographic and paintings inspired by the ocean, sharks, birds, Deep Hollow horses, twenty winters on the beach. The works we are showing in this show aren’t those.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

DP: To see an ongoing portrait of Montauk and a diary of works in progress follow @dltnart on Instagram.

Dalton Portella: Inside Out will be on display Saturday, September 1 through Friday, September 7, with an Opening Reception on Saturday, September 1, from 4 to 7 p.m.

Boo-Hooray Summer Rental is located at 649 Montauk Highway in Montauk. For more information, visit www.boo-hooray.com.