Coming Attractions With Gronk and Friends

The Scene: A reception/preview of the artist Gronk’s “Fascinating Slippers/ Pantunflas Fascinantes” exhibit Thursday at the Daniel Saxon Gallery.

Who Was There: The reception was hosted by Tristar Pictures chairman Mike Medavoy (who “a long time ago” at UCLA had been a teaching assistant in Renaissance art history) and his wife, Patricia. Among the 50 guests were director Alan Parker, Cheech Marin, Tony Franciosa, Danny Elfman, Bud Yorkin, Elizabeth Montgomery and Robert Foxworth. The uncrowded event was unique in that you could actually see the paintings.

Most Environmentally Correct Arrival: Gronk, who doesn’t drive, came from his downtown home by bus on Beverly Boulevard.

Dress Mode: Business attire. Gronk was in a plaid jacket, a blue T-shirt (“but a nice one”), pants and the “obligatory askew” touch--white Converse tennis shoes. “Kind of elegant for the bus, don’t you think?” he asked.

The Inevitable Question: Born Glugio Gronk Nicandro, the artist felt the first and last names were difficult for strangers to pronounce. Though he’s Chicano, the word Gronk, is from a Brazilian dialect and means “to fly.” “My mother was reading National Geographic,” he explains.

Anything About Bus Routes?: The catalogue from Gronk’s current exhibit at the San Jose Museum of Art includes a 33-item list of the artist’s “favorite things.” They include cereal (Grape Nuts), coffeehouse (L.A.’s The Onyx), color (blue), musical (“Pajama Game”), perversion (chocolate cake), TV show (“The Man From U.N.C.L.E.”) and country (Japan).

Quoted: “It’s a learning process,” Gronk said of his exhibit. “I’m trying to figure it out myself. If a viewer came in and told me, ‘Oh, this is what it’s all about,’ I’d be happy.”

Money Matters: The 13 paintings on exhibit were priced between $3,500 and $13,000.

Life Imitates Art: “I recognize Elizabeth Montgomery because I named my daughter after her,” said a waiter. “I always thought Samantha on ‘Bewitched’ was the embodiment of goodness.”