Experience - The Isle of Wight Festival 2002-2023

from Style of Wight Issue 82 May / June 2023

Style speaks

27th May – 17th September 2023

Dimbola’s summer show is a celebration of 21 years of the Isle of Wight Festival, since it was relaunched by John Giddings in 2002.

This will be the first retrospective exhibition of the Isle of Wight Festival, which has featured great artists such as David Bowie, The Rolling Stones, Amy Winehouse, Neil Young, Bruce Springsteen, Pink, Paul McCartney, Blondie, and many more.

Sponsored by Solo, Barclaycard, The Daisy Rich Trust, The Price is Wight, Wightlink, Briddlesford Farm, The Isle of Wight County Press, Signpost Express, Isle of Wight Distillery, Goddards Brewery, and Wight Karting, ‘Experience – the Isle of Wight Festival 2002 to 2023’ will feature photographs and footage from all years – you might even spot yourselves!

John Giddings is clearing out his IW Festival cupboard and loaning photographs, artifacts, and footage. Dimbola Chairman Brian Hinton’s extensive archive of the Festival will also feature.

“If you had told me in 2002 that we would still be doing it in 21 years, I would have laughed,” said John Giddings.

“We managed to lose a million pounds in the first two years but broke even with The Who and David [Bowie] in 2004. Thankfully it has gone from strength to strength, year after year, and is now one of the top five UK festivals. I would never have done it if I hadn’t been there in 1970 — it was the Woodstock of Europe, bringing the island to a standstill with 600,000 people watching Jimi Hendrix, and then getting banned for 32 years…

“Looking back on it, I think I had blind faith; people were talking behind my back asking, “how can you have a festival on an island you can only get to by boat.” I believed that was one of the attractions — it is like going on holiday (and has the most sunshine in the UK…)

“Thanks to everyone who has helped create it over the years, and thanks to the people on the Isle of Wight for welcoming us…

“I can sincerely say it is the best thing I have done in my career — long may it continue.

“This exhibition is to celebrate what we have achieved, and to get some money for Dimbola – a cause close to my heart – enjoy!!”

Dr Brian Hinton MBE said: “Dimbola, which commemorates the 1970 Festival, held within sight and sound of the house, is so pleased and proud to celebrate 21 years, and counting, of the revival of that earth-shattering event. Solo allows us to host a marquee every year on-site showing the work of Julia Margaret Cameron, images from the Afton 1970 festival and the new Festival, which continue the spirit and good-natured character of the original event.”

‘Experience – the Isle of Wight Festival 2002 to 2023’ will run from May 27th to September 17th 2023 at Dimbola.

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Film:

Developer:

Style spectrum Emma Wilkinson – Sheer Pink Photography

Whilst studying for a music degree in the Cornish town of Falmouth, Islander Emma Wilkinson started using disposable and point-and-shoot cameras to complement her songwriting project ‘Sheer Pink’ — and has never looked back. “I love the accessibility of film. I’m not techsavvy at all and the cameras I began learning with were simple to use and inexpensive but led to exciting and unpredictable results”.

Later Emma discovered her dad’s vintage Cosina CT-1 35mm camera in the loft of her family home and has since started using a range of other manual cameras from the 1980s and 1990s, including the Olympus OM20, Nikon F5, and Mamiya RZ67. Once local punk band Grade2 found out that Emma was using film, they asked for her to take their promotional photos in Ryde for an upcoming album release, with iconic landmarks such as the Royal York Hotel as the backdrop.

The shoot sparked an interest in portraiture, leading to new projects for Emma with local band Reminders and (more recently) the cast of the Apollo Theatre’s production of Oliver — recreating a Dickensian feel using black and white film which was developed with Roger Lowe (@shootfilmlikeaboss) at his darkroom in Adgestone.

From Monday to Friday (when not behind the lens) Emma can be found at her speciality coffee shop (also called Sheer Pink) located at 24b Holyrood Street, Newport, where you can sample her earthy matcha lattes or plump for a freshly frothed americano, made with full-bodied coffee beans from Winchester-based brand The Roasting Party.

@sheer_pink_photography