Gail Duituturaga
Gail Duituturaga …
... was born with a paint brush in her hand. “I think everyone has a talent and I thank the Great Spirit everyday that mine is painting. It keeps me searching for ways to express who I am and for interpretations of the beauty of this world.”
Gail painted the turbulent times of the Hawaiian renaissance of the 1980ʻs. At that time she painted under the name of her former husband, Ka’uhana, who was deeply active in the Hawaiian movement. The paintings of those years evoke Hawai’iʻs highly spiritual aspect. The renaissance paintings reflect the spirit and death of George Helm, Pele and family, Auntie Emma De Fries, and the return of the Maori to Ka Lae. There are whole folklore behind these paintings.
During the 90ʻs Gail continued her 27 year career as a Hawaiian Airlines flight attendant by flights to the Middle East during the Gulf War. Whimsical paintings such as ʻMe and Liana in Jamaicaʻ and ʻAll else is gravyʻ came from these adventures. She met her husband Tevita over the Arabian Sea on a United Nations Fijian peace keeping mission flight to Tel Aviv.
Gail, Tevita and her daughter Sanoe live on a small horse ranch in Mt. View, Hawaii. She is a National Cutting horse judge, raises Russian Arabians and has taught dressage for 20 years. Award for Classical Arabian Equine Art and went to study in Taos, N.M. On her return she has opened her studio in Mt. View to student artists.
The art of Gail Duituturaga has won numerous awards. Her paintings remain in the collections of The Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Queen Lilluikalani Trust and has been featured on Hawaiian Airlines in-flight cards. She has put on numerous art exhibits, participated in many group and solo shows.
“I am moved by color first and foremost, then by application of paint and design. All the rest falls in line from there. I do not believe in limitations in painting styles. The artist must be able to use whatever they have in them to express their view of the subject.
“One day I hope to paint large rolls of toilet paper and have it be really beautiful. After that all else is gravy.” -Gail-
