In 2023, longtime Santa Paula artist Gail Pidduck found herself with a childlike desire to “just make art.” Her adult sensibilities insisted on a focus. Pidduck compromised with the decision to use 8” x 8” panels as the constraint or structure for a series of paintings, while allowing herself to paint anything she wanted with no concern about subject matter. Thus, “8².” The “+ 10”? 8² + 10 = 74, Pidduck’s age when the exhibit hangs, and her goal to produce 74 new paintings from which to choose 40 to exhibit.

In this all-new exhibition, you’ll see Pidduck’s visual journal, an unrestricted year in the life of the artist and the things that bring her joy. Join us for the premiere of Gail Pidduck’s "8² + 10" on Saturday, September 14, 2024, from 4 PM to 6 PM. Admission is $5 for SPAM Members, and $10 for non-members. Beer, wine, and hors d’oeuvres will be served. All of the artworks will be available for purchase.

More About Gail:

Gail Pidduck was born in Santa Paula in 1950, and attended local schools. She worked summers during college in the flower fields of a local seed company, an experience which inspired Gail towards her now signature paintings of field workers and the rural landscape of Ventura County.

Pidduck earned a B.A. in Art from Brigham Young University in Utah. After college, Pidduck returned to Santa Paula where she raised three children and continues to paint to this day. She generally paints what surrounds her studio: mountains, fields, orchards, birds, animals, and the people who work nearby. Pidduck's work can be found in many private and public collections, including the Santa Paula Art Museum and the City of Ventura Municipal Art Collection.