Dimbola’s newly appointed Vice President, Julia Cameron, got into the role of promoting the museum and galleries whilst she was at the Isle of Wight Festival in June.
Together with our Patron, Trustee and Festival curator, John Giddings, she visited the Dimbola stall at the Festival (the space for which is gifted by John) and posed for a photo with him and Dimbola’s Chairman, Brian Hinton.
On the Saturday of the Festival, Julia visited Dimbola in Freshwater to see the current exhibition on Marilyn Stafford, which was organised by new President Julian Bell. Here she posed with the Jimi Hendrix statue, which was commissioned by John Giddings in memory of the 1970 IW Festival held at Afton. Jimi had recently acquired a fancy-dress outfit as a Hendrix-style pirate, in keeping with the Isle of Wight Festival spirit.
Both Julia Cameron and Julian Bell are related to Julia Margaret Cameron (JMC) who lived and worked as a photographer at Dimbola, between 1860 and 1875. Julia is her great, great, great-granddaughter and Julian is her great, great, great-nephew.
It is the first time that Dimbola has had relatives of JMC in both top positions. Julian is an artist and writer and is based in Lewes. Julia is a voice artist, jewellery designer and works in events and PR.
On her Instagram page Julia said:
“Epic weekend @isleofwightfest with huge thanks to @johngiddings01 for the incredible experience, hospitality and putting on such an iconic and brilliant event. Super grateful for the amazing space at the festival for @dimbolamuseum. Anyone who knows me knows I am extremely proud of my heritage, and I feel super lucky to be a part of the Dimbola Team. If you’re heading to the Isle of The Wight this summer, please do visit us and check out the incredible @marilynstaffordphotography exhibition.
“There are also works featuring iconic Bowie and Jimi Hendrix portraits by Gered Mankowitz and @terryoneillofficial Not to be missed!”
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I had to look twice, is it really John Giddins….yes so it is!
I hardly recognised him without his dark glasses? Maybe he left home without them as he normally wears them day and night.
He only wears them when receiving brown envelopes