One-Woman Show
Forget the Met. Forget MoMA. Forget the Guggenheim. They ain’t got nothing on Spring Studio in SoHo. Right now, the most anticipated and inspiring art exhibit in New York is on display at Spring, and it holds great personal significance to many in our city’s art community. Spring Studio director Minerva Durham has worked tirelessly these past few weeks to organize and curate this show in memory of her dear friend, the eminent New York artist’s model Aviva Stone, who passed away a year ago. I wrote a post in her honor, accompanied by a striking, now-famous portrait of Aviva by Fred Hatt. She was adored, admired, and respected. Over this past year, she has been deeply missed. I am glad to have known Aviva personally and can say that I never once encountered her in a mood that wasn’t warm, sweet, and positive. I also felt a kinship with Aviva in that she and I were among the few “full-timers” in the art modeling profession. We are a rare breed! 
Advance reviews on the show, which officially opens Sunday, December 7th, are unanimous, unmitigated raves. One of the finest Minerva has ever assembled, they’re saying. Artists were invited to submit their best drawings of Aviva, and now they are all together in one room. I can’t wait to see it myself!
A note to artists everywhere, and pay close attention: when 30 or 40 works, by different artists but of ONE model, hang in a gallery/art space all at the same time, that my friends is a “one-woman show”. An art model’s one-woman show. Yeah, that’s right. Just a reminder that the term is not the exclusive domain of artists. It doesn’t even require a flexible interpretation of the phrase or semantic trickery on my part, mind you. What’s going on down at Spring really is a one-woman show :raises pumped fist in art model solidarity:
Raymond Smith, a New Jersey-based artist, has two pieces of Aviva in the show. You can view them here, along with the rest of his online gallery. Also, my friend Jean Marcellino has a gorgeous charcoal drawing of Aviva in the show. Just a sample of the many expressive, creative, and affectionate portrayals of Aviva Stone on display in her tribute show, this is Jean’s depiction of the legendary muse:
Visit my Events and News page for more info on the Aviva exhibit.
Online memorial site for Aviva Stone.
And Aviva speaks for herself in this video profile.
