Not unlike the early promoters of Zimbabwean Shona Art, Frank McEwen, Pat Pearce, Roland Penrose and Father Groeber who collected, promoted, endorsed and wrote about Shona art in its nascent years, Tony Monda, through his extensive networks built over two decades, in the international art and antique world in the USA, Canada, Europe, Korea, Malaysia, Japan, Australia, the Far East and North and East Africa, created far-reaching audiences for Zimbabwean contemporary arts through Springstone International Art gallery.
The unique ‘Old Master’ Shona sculptures of Joram Mariga, Sylvester Mubayi, John Takawira, Bernard Takawira, Boira Mteki, Paul Gwichiri , Moses Masaya, Thomas Mukarobgwa, Claude Nyanhongo, Edward Chiwawa, Fanizani Akuda, Nicholas Mukomberanwa, Henry Munyaradzi, Lazarus Takawira, Albert Mamvura, Joseph Ndandarika ,Brighton Sango, were displayed together with early contemporary paintings from Charles Carlos Fernando, Kingsley Sambo, and latter day paintings from the late 1960’s from Marshall Baron, Stephen Williams, Anne Kileff,, Henry Thompson, Rose West, Alois tony Chiota, Luis Meque, Hillary Kashiri, Richard Joggee, John Hlatwayo, to a different generation of uniquely individual Zimbabwean modern artists like Chrispen June, , Dereck Macheka, Tony Monda, Norbert Shamuyarira, and metal artists Juliet Copperi, Arthur Azevedo. David Ndlovu and Maxwell Gochera
The exclusive art gallery and cultural foundation at 5 Idlehurst Way in Avondale, played host to many international gallerists, state dignitaries and representatives, celebrities, models, musicians, actors, international designers, ambassadors and private art collectors.
From the academic fraternity, Post graduate Arts and Humanities students, international journalists, scholars of Art, from the University of Washington, Seattle, Syracuse University, Southampton University in Great Britain, Wageningen University, New York School of Art, Milan School of Art and Design, Julienne Academy-USA, Sapienza Uni Roma Italy, Schloss academy, PSI New York, Makerere university and the University of Cape Town .
Anthropology, archaeology, History, sociology, Law, Industrial design, tourism and film scholars from around the world visited the gallery for educational talks and tour on Zimbabwean art, design and culture and Pan African art. Members of the international press, editors, post-graduate scholars and art critics from various institutions in the USA, Europe and Asia. Contemporary fashion magazines, such as, GQ, Uomo Vogue Italy, Afro fashion, Essence magazine USA, Black Arts, and various Travel tabloids, found the venue a perfect location for photo shoots with sculpture set against the background of a tropical garden.
Penny Lumley from the BBC news was one of the pioneer media guests to interview the proprietor Michelina Andreucci and co-director and curator Tony Monda. Destinations magazine,Travel Asia, Art Today, FLASH Art, New York Times, Art today, Flux, New York Daily, Apollo, African Arts, Aljazeera, Agence France Press, France 24, Le Monde, were to follow suit with captivating articles on contemporary African art and the Springstone art gallery collection in Zimbabwe.
International representatives from Leo Castelli Galleries’, Nueu Galerie Aachen Germany, Andre Magnin Art galleries, Anthony d’Offay galleries, Frick Art reference libraries, DIA Art foundation, USA, Christian Deydier, Nina Zborowska, Pieter Ludwig and many other agents from art institutions contacted and visited the gallery on 5 Idlehurst way, Ridge Road in Avondale.
Monda created links and synergies with top art auction houses such as Sotheby’s and Christies where he was to undergo training in Art evaluation, Art Estate administration, restoration, identification and intellectual property whilst at Springstone Art Gallery.
Members of WALA, Washington Area Lawyers Association, and the diplomatic spouse association of Zimbabwe, BHP-Broken Hill Platinum, Rotary Lions Club and Safari International were other notable guests at the Art venue.
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