Dimbola

Permanent Exhibition: Isle of Wight Festival
2014-01-01 - 2030-12-31
Solo Isle of Wight Festival Gallery
An exhibition focusing on the third and final of the original Isle of Wight Festivals held at Afton in 1970 within sight and sound of Dimbola and which saw Jimi Hendrix’s last major performance and his last in the UK.
The display includes rare posters and photographs of these legendary festivals. One photograph in particular is a panorama from Afton Down which gives an idea of the audience of 600,000 who gathered to watch Jimi Hendrix, The Doors, Taste, Miles Davis and Joni Mitchell to name a few.
To compliment this there is a display of posters and images of the new IOW Festivals, revived by the leading music agency Solo in 2002, which have featured such artists as The Rolling Stones, David Bowie, REM and Paul McCartney.
Also showing: Chris Cudlip bronze head of Hendrix. Chris has a background in special effects working as a freelance figurative sculptor and prop maker in London working for companies as varied as English national Opera, Madame Tussauds and Pinewood Studios He is now pursuing a solo career from the Arches Studios complex based in Southampton where he available for public or private commissions of any size.
Outside Dimbola there is a small memorial garden with a statue of Jimi Hendrix designed by sculptor John Swindells. Have your picture taken next to Jimi and his guitar or breathe in the wonderful lavender ‘Purple Haze’ that grows in his garden (spring/summer) and enjoy the views down to Freshwater Bay.

Permanent Exhibition: Julia Margaret Cameron
2014-02-01 - 2030-12-31
Julia Margaret Cameron (1815 – 1879) was one of the most important early photographers and is now recognised the world over as a pioneer of photography as art.
A woman ahead of her time, she was ambitious and freethinking when most Victorian women were passive and demure. She took on the challenges of handling large cameras and dangerous chemicals at a time when photography was known as ‘The Black Art’.
Ignoring conventions, she experimented with composition and focus. Today she is credited with creating the first photographic close-up portraits and influencing the subsequent Pictorialism movement with her use of diffused focus.
Her portraits of ‘famous men and fair women’, reflect her time within the Freshwater Circle, the birth of celebrity and her ambitions to be recognised as significant artist of her time.
The majority of her photographic work was created here at Dimbola. Her work is found in major archives the world over including our own growing Permanent Collection.

Mini Iconic Bowie – Terry O’Neill
2019-06-01 10:00 - 2028-12-31 16:00 UTC
Dimbola Museum & Galleries are honoured that Iconic Images have kindly agreed to loan us photographs of David Bowie taken by the late Terry O’Neil left over from our Iconic Bowie exhibition is 2019.
Over a 20-year period, O’Neill captured Bowie’s shapeshifting artistry better than just about anybody else.
O’Neill’s photographs have left such a lasting impression because he was able to demystify some of the 20th century’s biggest icons.
By the time O’Neill started shooting Bowie during his Ziggy Stardust tour in 1973, he was much a respected name in photography.
Currently exclusive to Dimbola in the UK, the limited editions images are available to purchase. For more information please email admin@dimbola.co.uk

Dimbola Celebrates 30th Anniversary: A Milestone in Preserving Photographic Legacy JUNE 1ST 2024
2024-06-01 - 2024-10-01
© Isle of Wight Festival

Originally the home of pioneering Victorian photographer Julia Margaret Cameron, Dimbola Museum & Galleries stands as a testament to her groundbreaking contributions to the art form. Now, thirty years since its inception, we continue to honour Cameron’s legacy while expanding our reach to showcase diverse photographic works from around the world.
Established in 1994, we have become a beacon of artistic exploration and historical preservation, attracting visitors from around the globe. In our illustrious history, we have curated countless exhibitions, workshops, and events, fostering a vibrant community of artists, scholars, and enthusiasts alike. From the earliest days of photography to the cutting- edge innovations of today, we remain at the forefront of preserving photographic heritage and pushing the boundaries of visual storytelling.
“We are thrilled to commemorate thirty years of Dimbola Museum & Galleries,” says Dr Brian Hinton, Chair of the Julia Margaret Cameron Trust. “Since our founding, we have been dedicated to preserving the past, engaging with the present, and inspiring the future of photography. As we look ahead, we are excited to continue our mission of fostering creativity, curiosity, and connection through the power of images.”
To celebrate this historic milestone, We have planned a schedule of events during the day followed by an invitation-only evening party hosted by Jules Cameron, the Vice president of Dimbola, the great great great granddaughter of Julia Margaret Cameron, international DJ and comedian. Cocktails will be supplied by Mermaid Gin and the Isle of Wight Cocktail Company kindly staffed by expert mixologists from The Albion Hotel who will also provide canapés, a taste of their new hotel a short walk away. Jules Cameron will be doing a DJ set and is also curating a collection of arts from special guest artists, Lauren Baker, Diana Gomez and others.
Our main exhibition is by Lisen Stibeck, a contemporary Swedish photographic artist who shares unexpected parallels with Julia Margaret Cameron in their respective creative journeys. Born more than a century apart, these artists share an unwavering devotion to the craft, an exploration of the feminine experience, and the manifestation of dreamlike realities.
As we embark on our next chapter we invite visitors, supporters and patrons to join in celebrating thirty years of photographic excellence and innovation to honour the past and embrace the present, envisioning the limitless possibilities of the future through the lens of Dimbola.

Mela Hilleard: At the Dining Room with Julia Margaret Cameron; Frames of time
2024-08-31 - 2025-01-01
The award-winning film director Mela Hilleard showcases her photographic work in the gift shop at Dimbola Museum & Galleries, home of the great Victorian photographer, Julia Margaret Cameron, who will be the inspiration for Mela’s next film. The exhibition is located in our gift shop and is free to view.
About the Artist:
Mela was born in Poland and her family was forcibly moved from Lviv, after WW2. She says, “I was raised on longing, for the lost paradise, for the time which does not exist seeking refuge in the world of art, at first theatre and later in photography and filmmaking.
I became interested in breaking conventions, thinking more in terms of poetry, always following my feelings and intuition. I like when things have their own unspoken history, imperfections, reflections, the crumbles of memories and dreams. Being like a collector of eternal appearance; light is beginning and end of everything to me – the inner light of every person, light in the room, light of the past moment, waiting for the light…
I am working now on developing a new project: ‘From life. Following in the footsteps of Julia Margaret Cameron’. Her life becomes a parallel story told through filmmaking and photographic eyes of mine inspired by her, in the 21st century, woven like separate strands of hair into one plait.”
melahilleard.com Contact: melahilleard@gmail.com
