Gail Pidduck’s solo exhibition “A Place in the Choir” is at the Buenaventura Galley from November 9 to December 4, 2010. Opening reception is Saturday, November 13 from 4-7pm

Inspired by a folk song of the 1970’s by Bill Staines “A Place in the Choir,” creatures of the farm and home snuggle, squok, waddle, bark and purr themselves into Pidduck’s oil paintings. With a ruralist focus on the countryside, away from horns beeping and a hum of modernity, Pidduck has created a collection of new works with a fauna as her theme. The local flora and agricultural community are a consistent thread in Pidduck’s well known works and life on the farm continues to be honored in her “A Place in the Choir”.

Participants of Pidduck’s chorus of creatures are furry, feathery and familiar friends. Pidduck grew up in a farming family in Santa Paula and continues to live the rural life. Devoted to celebrating and spreading rural consciousness, Pidduck and local photographer John Nichols began the Ag Art Alliance in 2007 to help promotes all facets of agriculture and its value through the eyes of artists.

Pidduck was part of the recent exhibit Art for the New Millennium: Museum Acquisitions since 2000, an exhibit consisting of art work from 31 artists whose works joined the museum’s permanent collection since 2000. Pidduck’s retrospective at the Museum of Ventura County in 2005, Harvest: The Rural Landscape of Gail Pidduck, combined 48 paintings borrowed from private collectors as well as recent pieces that focused on Ventura County farmworkers.

Pidduck’s show reminds us how it takes all the voices and many parts of a rural community to make the unique beauty happen. Her choir is singing! Listen and clap your hands, paws, or anything you got!

The Buenaventura Gallery is located at 700 E Santa Clara St. in downtown Ventura. Hours are Tues – Friday from 12 – 5 pm and Saturday from 11 am to 5 pm. For more information, visit their website at www.BuenaventuraGallery.org.