Dora Gordine remembers the scluptor at Kingston Museum (From This Is Local London)

Dora Gordine remembers the scluptor at Kingston Museum

6:10pm Thursday 26th March 2009 in Where I Live By Alita Howe

Dora Gordine remembers the scluptor at Kingston Museum

An American woman who sat for famous Kingston sculptor Dora Gordine has been reliving memories of her model days by flying back to England for a special talk.

Maren Friedman was 22 when in 1960 she had a chance encounter with Gordine at the American Women’s Club in London and the sculptor asked her to model for her.

They became firm friends and Mrs Friedman is now the proud owner of three rare Gordine bronzes which take pride of place in her home in New Jersey.

In an event to coincide with the first retrospective of Gordine’s work in Kingston, Mrs Friedman, 70, returned to the UK to speak about her recollections of sitting for the artist.

She said: “It was an absolutely fascinating process.

“Luckily Dora didn’t need me to stay completely still the whole of that time. She talked about all sorts of things, including what it was like growing up in Russia and her time working as an artist in Paris.

“I’d never been all that knowledgeable about art before but, after spending time with Dora, I developed a real passion for it, especially sculpture.”

The talk was held earlier this month at Kingston Museum, where the exhibition continues until Saturday, May 2.

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