Then there were those who couldn't stop talking about the new building, which opened its doors to the public for the first time Sunday afternoon at an open house."It's absolutely wonderful. We started with so little space," said Midge Axtater, a museum member and one of more than 600 people who dropped by at the three-hour event.
Visitors nibbled on cookies and examined an array of paintings by renowned San Diego artists. The open house was the last event in a five-day series that launched the museum's expanded facility at 704 Pier View Way.
Axtater said what she liked most about the building was its airiness and openness.
"By the looks of the crowd, Oceanside has really embraced this," she said.
Vista resident Cindy Michaels was examining a poster announcing a coming exhibit called "Ancient Marks: The sacred origins of tattoos and body markings," which opens in April.
"I'm an artist," said Michaels. "I'm just delighted that we have such a beautiful museum here in North County. The expansion will offer the opportunity to bring in more artists from around the country. Oceanside is becoming well known."
Finishing touches were put on the museum's modern Central Pavilion during the last few months. The new building, designed by Los Angeles architect Frederick Fisher, expanded the museum's space from 5,000 to 21,000 square feet.
It is attached to the Gill building, which formerly housed the museum and is now its store. The Gill building was built in 1934 by San Diego architect Irving Gill and formerly was City Hall.
The expansion, which cost nearly $5 million, includes the main gallery ---- there is a second, smaller one in the Gill building --- a reception area and catering kitchen.
The second story has a permanent-collection gallery, community gallery, library, administrative offices and a boardroom. A basement houses a carpentry shop and storage.
Axtater's daughter Trish Jackson, who drove from Orange County for the open house, said she was impressed by the range of people attending.
"I see mothers bringing their kids, teaching them about the paintings. You don't see so much of that these days," she said.
The museum wants to encourage such a cross-section of ages, said Beth Smith, the museum's assistant director. "I had to ask one young man to put his skateboard behind the desk," she said with a smile.
One of those younger people was Rebecca Stout, 20, who was visiting Oceanside with her family from Pennsylvania.
"It's very nice," she said.
In the main gallery, Mary Lou and Bob Newsom were examining works by San Diego artists such as Belle Baranceanu, Charles Fries and Guy Rose.
Mary Lou Newsom said her favorite was a piece titled "La Iglesia de Texcoco," by Alfred Ramos Martinez.
And in the museum store, Carlsbad residents David and Patty Erb were looking at jewelry, glass works and brightly-colored baskets called "Zulu telephone wire baskets." Patty Erb said her favorite paintings were "La Jolla Shores," by Alfred Mitchell, and "Borrego," by Charles Fries.
The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday and is closed Mondays.
Admission is $8, $5 for ages 65 and older and free to students and active-duty military members and their dependents with identification.
