Alan and Suzanne Whitewood review ‘Iconic Jimi’ at Dimbola…
This new photographic exhibition was launched on Friday 13th August at Dimbola Museum and Galleries, Freshwater Bay.
Unfortunately, all the photographs which are the result of two photo sessions in February and March 1967 are only monochrome.
Rock photographer Gered Mankowitz chose to capture the Jimi Hendrix Experience – a mixture of solo and group poses- in black and white only. It is a decision he now regrets.
Gered has now revisited some of the images and colourised them in a manner reminiscent of the late Andy Warhol.
After an opening speech by curator Doctor Brian Hinton MBE, in which he explained he had been inspired by a visit to a London bookstore where he had seen Gered’s illustrations. Brian thanked the exhibition team at Dimbola for staging this new show and said that all the works were for sale.
Although Gered did not attend the opening night, he spoke via a video link from his home in Cornwall. By the time of the first photo session the group had had their first top 10 single (number 6) ‘Hey Joe’.
In contrast, when Gered first saw Hendrix perform, he was not impressed. As he admitted his music went over his head on first hearing.
On a later occasion, he would witness Hendrix perform all his on-stage tricks before being introduced to him, albeit briefly.
When the group’s debut album ‘Are You Experienced’ was being planned the record company were insisting the album cover was in colour. Gered’s offerings were ruled out.
Iconic Jimi will run at Dimbola until 31st October 2021.
