MIKE JEKNAVORIAN National Interviews

MOTHER JUAN AVIANCE

You may have seen Pose, the hit TV series about the ball room scene, but let’s not forget about the real house mothers please.  Ladies and gentlemen, meet one of the longest-reigning mothers of them all—Mother Juan Aviance.

PHOTOGRAPH BY FRANCO AVIANCE

By Mike Jeknavorian 

You were raised in Boston.  What do you miss about it?  It was an easier way of life when I grew up in Boston.  So, if anything, that’s what I miss.  Other than yourself, who was the fiercest voguer of all time?  Well, to be fair, we’re all fierce in our own special way!  What’s the most complex style of vogue?  In vogue, it’s all pretty complex.  For me, I tend not to vogue any particular way but my own.  What D.C. venue do you miss that’s gone?  Where it all started—Tracks.  What politician were you the most excited to meet in D.C.?  One time my house did a vogue show at a D.C. festival, and we met Mayor Marion Berry, so that was pretty exciting.  What New York Venue do you miss that’s gone?  Hands-down, the Sound Factory! 

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What’s your favorite house song?  The House of Aviance adopted theme song, “You Gotta Believe,” by Fierce Ruling Diva.  Of all the collaborations that you’ve done, which was the most special to you?  That would be an event that I vogued in starring Jennifer Hudson.  She was kind, witty, and down-to-earth.  Who would you kill to produce musically?  (laughs) I wouldn’t “kill” anybody, but whoever’s ready and willing to be produced by David Ohana Aviance of Aviance Records, hit us up!  How did you come up with your name?  It actually came to mind one day while shopping for fragrances.  The Aviance Night Musk commercial popped into my head, and I said, “That’s it…  “Aviance.”  If God were to take you tomorrow, how would you like to be remembered?  When that day comes, I’ll let the people have their say. 

PHOTOGRAPH BY BAYARDO ALVAREZ AVIANCE

What do you want to live long enough to see?  Peace on earth!  Will you ever retire?  I plan to but not sure if it will ever be a 100% retirement.  What’s the weirdest question that a fan’s asked you?  I’ve been asked, “Will you ever do drag or transition to be a women, since you’re the ‘mother’ of the house.”  FYI, the answer is, “No!”  How long have you been the “mother” of the House of Aviance?  Thirty years!  I founded the house in August 1989, so August 2019 is our 30th anniversary.  What other celebrity did you act like a “fan” around?  Hmm…  I’ve met many celebs, but I pretty much held myself together, or I’d like to think I did.  What’s the last thing that you looked at online?  All the Trump drama!

PHOTOGRAPH BY BAYARDO ALVAREZ AVIANCE

What’s the best place that you’ve visited?  Unfortunately, I don’t travel much, but the few places that I’ve been I loved…  San Francisco, Tel Aviv and Puerto Rico.  What’s something that you learned in life only when you got older?  To live each day to the fullest, cuz’ life is short.  What did you learn from your parents?  To live life with honor, compassion and integrity.  Who’s your favorite performer?  As a lover of the arts, it’s hard for me to pick a “favorite” anything.  Let’s just say that I love a good performance when I see it!  What’s your best characteristic?  My compassion for others.  How do you enjoy spending your time?  I love lazy days at home watching TV and talking on the phone.  I also love the beach, but being in New York City, there’s only a few months of summer, which sucks. 

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ARTURO GUCCI GUEVARA

What celebrity do you have a crush on?  Well he’s not a celebrity per-se, but I love me some Prince Harry!  Who do you admire? Billy Porter.  If you could bring one person back from the dead, who would it be?  My Mom.  Where would you go in a time machine?  To the beginning of time.  What would your last meal be?  Tons of seafood…  Please!  What do you worry about?  The state of the world today.  What are you afraid of?  Not being able to provide for myself.  If you were a musical instrument, what would you be?  A harp.  Are you more like a sheep or a wolf?  A wolf for sure! 

PHOTOGRAPH BY BAYARDO ALVAREZ AVIANCE

Other than your house children, who depends on you, and for what?  My friends and fans outside of the house depend on my guidance, advice, or just for me to sit and listen.  Who are you closest with?  God.  What would your autobiography be called?  Who Said Gay Men Don’t Have Children.  What’s on your bucket list?  To travel the world and teach vogue.  What’s your greatest regret in life?  I have no regrets!  What’s something secretive about you that people don’t know?  I’m a cry baby and a sucker for love stories.  Where can we see you?  Currently, I’m hosting a party at Christina Visca’s “Birdcage” every Sunday at Le Bain in the Standard Hotel.  You can also see me on my website or at my pride party in New York City on Monday July 1!

MIKE JEKNAVORIAN Local Interviews

MICHAEL TRONN – PART 1

In a two-part exclusive, founding club kid, artist and promoter Michael Tronn tells us what South Beach was like before the Versace era, before letting us into the elite world of some of New York’s and Miami’s hottest clubs

PHOTOGRAPH BY NATALIE CAROLE

Where did you grow up?  In New York, across the street from The Metropolitan Museum of Art.  How long have you lived in South Florida?  I moved here in 1997, but I was visiting here since about 90’ or 91’.  What was South Beach like then?  My first trip was fairly spontaneous, and I knew nothing about South Beach except that it was a cool, secret spot for New Yorkers and fashion people.  This was before Versace, before Lincoln Road—the place was virtually a ghost town.  Back then, the Versace mansion was a run-down apartment building for seniors.  Ocean Drive was lined with elderly people in plastic chairs sunning themselves with reflectors under their chins.  The only things that were going on then were photo shoots and some very hedonistic nightclubs, such as Warsaw and Paragon.  Why did you move here?  I decided that if I could get a good job at one of five companies that I was interested in, then I would move permanently—and I did.  Liquid hired me to be the new creative and marketing director, and I stayed in Miami from then on.  What part of South Florida do you live in?  When I’m in Miami, I live in South Beach.

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What do you like most about living here?  The ocean, the air, and the amazing memories that I have of South Beach’s heyday, such as the beginning of Wynwood.  Where do you hang out in South Florida, and why?  I don’t hang out at any one spot like I did in the past, but I find that Wynwood is the most interesting neighborhood.  In some ways, Churchill’s is my favorite.  What’s your claim-to-fame?  I was one of the co-creators of the “Club Kid” scene in New York.  That was in 1987.  I also promoted and/or launched many notable clubs in New York such as Tunnel, The World, the Red Zone, Mars, The Saint, Studio 54, Roxy and MK.  In Miami, I’m known as the director of Liquid, building and launching the Ice Palace Film Studios, launching Crobar and promoting ANTHEM Sundays there, opening the restaurants Rumi and Studio, and for having my own art space in Wynwood.  How did you come up with your name?  People think I made my last name up, but Tronn is an old Russian family name.  Whose fashion look do you admire, and why?  I much prefer style over designer clothes, and I always have.  My favorite style idol is Iris Apfel.  She’s 100 percent unique and real, and she dresses only for herself.

What’s your favorite place that you’ve lived?  It’s a tie between Miami from 1991 to 2006—there was never anything as amazing as that, and I don’t think there ever will be again—and New York in the 70s and 80s.  That period was New York’s golden age in so many ways.  What New York venues do you miss that are gone?  Palladium, The World, Area, Danceteria, Mother and Studio 54.  What are your favorite events that you’ve produced in New York, and why?  Well, I’ve produced over 1,000 events, but three New York events stand out: one, a hair-sculpture completion at Tunnel (we had salon tables in the basement… the creations were amazing).  Two, the opening night of the “It” party at The World (I had the entire first floor done in tin foil as a tribute to The Factory, the entire stairwell—including the floor—was painted with the sky and clouds as a tribute to Magritte, the top floor was designed and decorated red as a tribute to Diana Vreeland, and I had mountain climbers rappel down the face of the building while the crowd waited for the doors to open).  And, three, the opening Night of Crobar New York (the production was over-the-top, and we had 15,000 people).

PHOTOGRAPH BY TIM SCULLY

What South Florida venues do you miss that are gone?  Warsaw and Paragon.  Warsaw is a heartbreaking loss.  At least the site of the original Paragon became Level, and then Mansion [it closed in 2016].  But Paragon really is the best venue in Miami.  What are your favorite events that you’ve produced in Miami, and why?  Once again, there are three major standouts: the Grand Opening of Crobar, which was insane.  I had a $70,000 budget, and I staged a car wreck out in front with live models—people still talk about it today.  The “White Starz” party at The Coconut Grove Convention Center, where I not only transformed the entire space, but I had Yoko Ono perform in between the sets of Junior Vasquez and Tony Moran.  And “GUIDO” on Fridays at Liquid, which was in the VIP lounge.  We had immersive themes there each week, such as a “Bollywood” wedding, and it became the place for major fashion launches.

Stay tuned for PART 2 next week…