What's New!
These notes and quotes for journalists to use freely. A collection of press releases and written notes for public information. All writing is public domain. Some photographs carry credit to the photographer and for describing our activity only. We have high resolution copies available. Thank you! Eric Lansdown
HERITAGE DAYS (SEPTEMBER 16 & 17)
Inauguration of artist Eric Lansdown’s studio
The aviary and dollhouse designer inaugurates his workshop on September 16 and opens it to the public from that date on. The artist has set up his studio in a 15th-century old building in the heart of Gabian’s Abescat. Come and discover the fascinating history of this building, Eric Lansdown’s spectacular works and the reforestation association they fund.
After 25 years away from San Francisco and the media, Eric Lansdown returns with his famous aviaries and a reforestation association. Based in a 15th-century Abescat decorated with leviathan dragons, he uses his art to protect the environment. The aim of his association is to teach woodworking to young volunteers and reforest the garrigue. His art studio, a listed historic monument, opens to the public on September 16, 2023, during the Journées du Patrimoine (Heritage Days), and will remain open to the public from that date.
The historic monument was a fortress built to protect the water mill, as evidenced by the 15 loopholes lining the thick walls. This set of defences underlines the importance of the water mill as the economic engine of the village. The remaining part of the rampart, with its covered walkway, illustrates how people moved around the village in the past. Initially fitted only with loopholes, the windows have been enlarged over time, since the late Middle Ages. The ground floor was originally an armory with tunnels leading to Péznas. The first floor, where Eric Lansdown currently works, was the courtroom. It was renovated in 1435: the ceiling was lowered and decorated with leviathan dragons. Eric gave his studio the name “House of the Ten Dragons”. The decorated ceiling was the envy of the Archbishop of Narbonne, who had one four times as large built in his Capestang château in 1439. The Gabian abescat once belonged to the bishop of Béziers, but now it belongs to the people and to this artist, who will protect it for the future.
Eric Lansdown opens his art studio to the public
Eric Lansdown is a creative artist based in the heart of Gabian since 2014. His studio is nothing less than a historic monument: the Bishops’ Palace.
This artist has an extensive career that aims to raise public awareness of his work, by opening his workshop to the public and showcasing his intricate dollhouses and aviaries: all under a medieval painted ceiling. When looking up, one can see ten leviathan dragons painted in 1435, hold the ceiling beams in their jaws. The place is a mixture of medieval and gothic architecture, which has been renovated and improved over the years.
The historic building was a fortress, built to protect the water mill and the border of the village. Holes in the strong stone wall and other defence mechanism show the economic importance of the water mill to the village. The remaining part of the rampart, with its covered walkway, shows how people moved around the fortress in the past. Originally fitted only with embrasures, the windows have been enlarged over time since the late Middle Ages. On the ground floor of the building lies the original armoury of the fortress with tunnels that are interconnected. The first floor, where Eric Lansdown currently works, is going to be the showroom for visitors. The ceiling of this room has been lowered and is decorated with the 10 dragons. Eric named his workshop after them – “the house of the ten dragons”. The decorated ceiling was even the envy of the Archbishop of Narbonne, who had a larger one built in his château at Capestang in 1439. While the building in Gabian was once the domain of the Bishop of Béziers, it now belongs to the people, and to this artist, who continues to protect it for the future. On time for the Heritage Days, Eric Lansdown is opening this 11th-century building to the public from September 16 onwards.
