VOICES

“We really want everyone to come together with us and use their energy and talent to build an exciting museum for the visual arts in Orange County.”

--Gilbert LeVasseur, Laguna Art Museum board president

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“Now that we have created a strong front, we will continue the fight until the Laguna Art Museum is independent. We welcome [a countywide art museum], but not on the ashes of the Laguna Art Museum.”

--Fitz Maurice, artist, vice president of merger opponents, Motivated Museum Members

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“The affirmation of the museum vote is a positive step to place Orange County in its rightful place as a West Coast leader in the arts. Congratulations to the visionaries who stuck to their principled views on what’s best for Southern California. It is a credit to everyone that their measure of greatness was not constrained by small thinking.”

--Thomas T. Tierney, past board president (1985-87), Laguna Art Museum

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“The Performing Arts Center has proven the catalyst for the growth of the performing arts that we haven’t seen take place in the visual arts yet. Maybe [the Orange County Museum of Art] will provide a similar catalyst for the development of the visual arts in the county.”

--Bonnie Brittain Hall, executive director of Arts Orange County, a countywide service agency

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“My fear is that the negative publicity and all the controversy has really compromised funding efforts, no matter who takes control of the museum.”

--Johanna Felder of merger opponents, Save Laguna Art Museum

Compiled by CATHY CURTIS