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 'Dead Awakening' image by French
Friend & Co, on Gloucester Road in Bristol is “probably the smallest
gallery in the world…kind of a ‘micro gallery’…imagine a Dairylea
triange, only smaller!” But its proud and passionate owner Tom Friend,
is fast proving that the best things come in small packages. Lick speaks to Friend & Co's friendly Tom Friend...
Why did you decide to set up this gallery – is it all about artistic freedom/showing work that doesn’t get shown in other galleries, reaching a different audience from the conventional gallery crowd, or just that it’s a lot more fun doing it with your mates?
It was a hobby that turned into a 'job'. I've collected art for a good few years and then when I recently left a job I'd been in for 12 years I decided I wanted to do something I really cared about rather than just taking a wage. I also think there's a gap in the market for a gallery selling affordable art... I kept seeing lots of art I liked from different countries, different styles. I just started thinking 'I'd like to spend my time doing that... working with those people!' I thought it was initially going to be just online and then a friend of mine who had a tiny shop space got involved and we decided to open a physical gallery as well as the online shop.
What can we expect to find/ experience, walking into Friend & Co for the first time?
Probably the smallest gallery in the world! Kind of a 'micro gallery'... imagine a Dairylea triangle, only smaller! (We’re actually in the process of getting official status as 'The Smallest Gallery In The World'!)... BUT we’re full of original limited edition prints and original pieces from some great artists.
What were your main priorities in making Friend & Co a reality?
That we produced quality prints and artwork that normal people could afford, that we weren't the same as anyone else, that we didn't follow trends, jump bandwagons or chase ambulances, that we could hopefully help unknown artists establish themselves... and that we have fun!
What’s been the hardest thing/ biggest challenge of setting up on your own? Your blog looked like it was quite a seat of the pants ride...
The size of the space has been the biggest challenge, trying to make the tiniest space work, plus we didn't really know what we were doing! Learning every aspect as we go along, mostly making it up as we go. Also the place was in a pretty bad way, we literally had to gut it, the roof kept leaking. We were still hanging the pieces five minutes before people arrived for the opening, still printing the prints the night before...we left it all to the last minute!
How long did it take to get everything ready?
I've had it in my head to do it for years, then we'd had a few beers on holiday and decided it would be a good idea, that was about six months ago, then we started telling people... once you've started telling people then you have to do it!
Given a magic wand/ shit loads of cash, what would be your dream space/ location put on an exhibition in?
I'd like to do an exhibition in a motorway service station, preferably Membury Service Station, take over the whole thing, from the outside you can't tell but when you get inside it's full of art!
Anything else you'd like to tell people about Friend & Co?
We don't have a toilet in our tiny gallery so if you pop in and see us and I have a strange look on my face that's why...
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