posted 04-11-2007 04:52 PM               

Proud Galleries presents
Images of Apollo
The Leslie Cantwell Collection

21st of June - late Summer 2007

Proud Camden presents an unseen collection of official NASA photographs with authentic NASA serialisation and signatures by the original astronauts. Celebrating a fundamental chapter of Americana, Proud puts the spotlight on images that ultimately changed the world. The 1960s - 1972 mark the golden years of space travel, during the first and last such voyages to the moon.

In an effort to capture the glory of these years in history, Proud unveils an unprecedented collection of large format photographs amassed personally by UK based collector, Leslie Cantwell. Cantwell has amassed what is regarded by the industry experts as the world's largest collection of its kind and Proud Galleries will be focusing on the most critical portion of this collection: The Apollo Missions. These impressive photographs include the explorations of Buzz Aldrin, Alan Bean, Jim Lovell, Fred Haise, John Young, Michael Collins, Harrison Schmitt, Gene Cernan and of course Neil Armstrong and many more.

The Collection, available exclusively through Proud Galleries, follows the journey from Apollo 7 - Apollo 17 and includes a substantial collection of original Hasselblad photographs (the official camera of choice used on all missions). This Hasselblad collection was first presented to Walter Cunningham - Lunar Module Pilot, Apollo 7, who himself recognizes the exclusivity of this exhibition.

"These are rare and unique pictures from a unique time in the history of the world. It is nice to know that such a fine organization as Proud Galleries will be giving a new generation the opportunity to observe at first hand the many wonderful images of Apollo." - Walter Cunningham, LMP Apollo 7

What makes this collection so unique is not only the signatures by the original astronauts, but that a vast part of the collection includes personal inscriptions by the astronauts. There is diverse and original text varying from Dante and Kipling excerpts, to comical monologue spoken during the image capture, to descriptions of chilling moments which gripped the world. The astounding length of words written by the likes of John Young, Buzz Aldrin, Harrison Schmitt and Michael Collins, whom experts will attest are extremely rare to have attained even a signature from, make these signed inscriptions a one of a kind collectors marvel. Mr. Cantwell has gone far beyond just a collection of autographs and his collection is an honourable tribute to the efforts and courage of the original moonwalkers and America's heroes.

"There is a crying need to preserve the knowledge of manned space exploration. 'The Images of Apollo' is a wonderful example of his endeavor. As a former front line player during the wonderful Apollo Lunar exploration program, I applaud their effort."
-- Sy Liebergot Apollo EECOM, Skylab EGIL

"I'm over the moon to be hosting this fantastic new exhibition! Astonishingly, these images are as powerful today as when they were first taken. They continue to inspire much the same awe as must have been felt by thousands of viewers across the globe watching the first landing on the moon. I am confident that with this show, Proud is living up to its reputation for providing people with an original and exciting visual experience".
-- Alex Proud, Gallery Owner

"This exhibition at Proud Galleries is very welcome news! I have known Mr. Cantwell for several years now, both personally and as a member of our collectSPACE.com community. I have had the pleasure of handling several of his prints as we assisted having them signed by Apollo 11 moonwalker Dr. Buzz Aldrin. The opportunity to see those pieces within the larger scope of Mr. Cantwell's collection in a gallery setting is very enticing".
-- Robert Pearlman, collectSPACE

"The unique collection of 16"x20" images amassed by Leslie Cantwell is probably the largest in the world today. I have enjoyed assisting Leslie with his endeavours to obtain these fantastic images from the American Space era and have searched long and hard, on many occasions, not only the official NASA sources but my considerable archive left to me by my Father, Edwin G. Pipp who was the Detroit News Aerospace Writer/Editor from 1958 to 1981. He was the only Journalist to cover every NASA mission, manned and unmanned, through the Skylab program achievements of an amazing team".
-- Jerome Bascom-Pipp, Apollo Mission Photos

Leslie Cantwell is a highly successful businessman. Born in South London, he now lives in Virginia Water, Surrey.

Leslie's interest in the American space programme really began in 1981, when he met Jim Irwin, Apollo 15 moonwalker, in Hanover, Germany. Jim, although there to promote his new book, cut a modest figure, and Leslie was initially baffled when this unknown man introduced himself and, before parting, offered to sign a picture. His first response when Jim produced a picture of a man standing on the moon was to think he must be joking; an initial amusement that turned to astonishment when Jim inscribed the picture with the legend 'with love from the moon'. Leslie packed the photo away in his case and did not set eyes on it again until ten years ago. The seeds had clearly been sown, though, because on rediscovering it amongst his possessions he set out upon a very long, arduous, frustrating, and expensive but exceptionally satisfying journey. Leslie's collection is distinguished not only by its scale but by the time and thought that has gone into every aspect of it. After studying the usual NASA imagery, Leslie realised the wastefulness of showing some of the most memorable images of all time in the usual 8"x10" format, and thus has developed the 16"x20" format. His decision to combine text with imagery represents an originality of approach, a concern with posterity and an understanding of the potentially transcendent importance of the Apollo print when it becomes not only image, but poetry and art.

Thanks to his endeavours, Leslie has had the rewarding experience of being able to meet most of the Apollo astronauts and moonwalkers and has established friendships with a few. He is now recognised by some of the most important people within the space industry, for the contribution that he has made to preserving a vital chapter of our recent history.

posted 04-12-2007 09:14 AM               

It's a strange feeling being in the public eye at the moment but it must be said that considerable motivation has come from meeting many wonderful people with similar interests and I probably would not have started all this had I not seen the "Sumowski" collection.

I am delighted at this opportunity of spreading the word and it is obvious from the fantastic media interest shown in this exhibition thus far, that the Apollo programme is still easily capable of generating the WOW factor to a whole new audience.

posted 06-12-2007 12:06 PM               

The only thing I'd dispute is the "nobody's interested in Orion" (compared to Apollo) quote, which I suspect is taken out of context. IMO Orion will re-ignite interest in another generation.