To find a diamond you have to wait for nature to take its course and then look in the right place. Sometimes you have to look a little harder to find a real gem.......
fondation A.N.P.Q is such a gem.
Located equidistant from Clermont L’Herault and Pezénas drive through the vineyards and countryside that we adore and you come to Péret. Look a little closer and you will find the gallery fondation A.N.P.Q owned and run by Richard Johnson and Gabby Campbell.
Both with degrees in Fine Art from Chelsea School of Art, The Royal College of Art and St Martin’s College the knowledge and enthusiasm is apparent from the minute you enter the inviting entrance.
Richard has owned property in Peret for 16 years and when the decision was made, they unanimously decided to open their new venture in their ‘home’ village.
The gallery, after extensive renovation opened 2 years ago and comprises a bright and open gallery space, a courtyard where creative courses and practical instruction takes place and an open plan office. There is an ongoing expansion programme that is more a labour of love than a business plan. This includes a residential space for both residential and visiting artists.
The gallery space is inviting and with Richards knowledge of lighting and effects each item is accessible and allowed to be viewed with no intrusion from the next piece.
The scope and intent of Richard and Gabby is not confined to exhibitions. Cultural exchanges, creative workshops and experimentation are all included in their remit. But the fondation A.N.P.Q experience does not end there.
With Gabbys experience of exhibitions garnered from many galleries, arts centres, theatres and The Natural History Museum in London and her continuing presence at Glastonbury Festival helping run ‘The People’s portrait Gallery’, and street theatre with Bridgwater Arts Centre the scope and range is evident. Add to this Richards experience with lighting, special effects and even designing the iconic Rough Trade logo (used over 1.5million times) and working with Depeche Mode as a mere starting point you will see them involved in Poetry and music festivals, outdoor art, impro theatre and dance in many areas of the Languedoc.
The range of artists who have already displayed in the 2 years that the gallery has been open is eclectic and confirms Richards statement “We look for art and artists who make us change our thoughts on what and how we see”
Previous exhibitions include Neil Sparkes, Marine Silvia, Alice Anglade, Yann Jost , Tanguy Flot, Derek Adams, Zoe Benbow, Jürgen Dehniger, Judith Kuehne, Tony White, Margaret and Geoffrey Elmore and Pierre Callon. and for 2010 four exhibitions are confirmed starting with Karim Blanc “Chlorophylle et peintures vertes”
As if their enthusiasm, professionalism and openness are not enough, Richards uncanny resemblance to a young Roger Waters and Gabby having a self confessed ‘hippy punk’ Soixsie Soux look only enhance the feeling that this is a gallery and a couple that you should go out of your way to see, follow and realise that diamonds are still there to be found, sometimes you just have to search them out.
;)
Karim Blanc
“Chlorophylle et peintures vertes”
For further information contact Richard or Gabby at
richardjohnson.anpq@neuf.fr and gabbycampbell.anpq@neuf.fr