Architect Irving Gill

and the

Oceanside Museum of Art

In 1992, I was tasked by the Chairman of the Oceanside Arts Commission to find a place in downtown to display Visual Fine Art. A columnist in the San Diego Union Tribune had described Oceanside as a vast cultural wasteland.

In 2026 The Oceanside Museum of Art shines as a beacon on the Hill for our City's inspirational guide into the World of Culture and Art. Sometimes the Whiteness of it All becomes a place of otherworldly wandering as a stranger, to become another self. We become an other entering into the world of the artist. We stand, enchanted, beguiled with the possibility of entering into the mind world of another. Such is the magic of entering through the door of Imagination.

OMA is such a place. Stepping up to the grand courtyard our walk becomes lighter, expectant with the excitement of the what ifs. It has become this Community Place of Culture and Art due to the professional and empathetic work of the Staff and the unending generosity of our donors and supporters through the years.

Gill painting of Fire Station

Irving Gill was an Architect. Beyond that, an engineer, and an Artist. In the Art/Design World we have a saying, KISS. (keep it simple stupid). The simplicity of his construction* methods made it possible for him to design buildings like sculpture. The repeats, the combing of elements in the simplest pure forms made his projects unique. The “Whiteness”, was amplified by his whimsical of splashes of color. The Primary colors, used for musical sparkle, his favorite being blue for the Ocean. 

Rudy Van Hummick  

On March 1, 2026 the announcement of the  Gill designed Fire Station to become the third element of the Museum has become a reality. This final  phase of the OMA Campus covers one entire block on Pier View Way. Now, the Gill City Hall, the Beautiful Pavilion and Gill Fire Station have become One.

OMA, the past, present and future, Perfect! Gill, our heritage, our community, our world of imagination and the What Ifs of Tomorrow. He always knew...

                                               

  

* His building method. This page hows many of his designs and the beauty of pure form.  

 

I Could Stay Forever

A Place of "Blue Happiness"

One of the most splendid of all of the Arts is our place of great gastronomical reward. Such a place is where my Daughter and I were yesterday. The sky was blue with puffy clouds dancing, the harbor was still waters, and the Blue Pacific was sparkling with joy, waves softly singing the sounds of surf.

This is a place of memories of my late husband who was sure that the best burgers were only to be found at the Lighthouse Restaurant. 

As we lounged on the warm sunny deck, memories of yesteryear flooded within me. I could see him, smile huge on his face, with the burger and fries before him and the day was complete, the place of fulfillment only to be found here at the Oceanside Harbor.

The Burger Gone with Gusto...

We humans all have our "Place of Blue Happiness", the place where we return over and over again. The warmth of the owners knowing you and the remembered chairs we always sat, and we were once again carefree. This place of happiness does not have to have a Michilin Star, it has only to has to have the love of bringing you sustance with human warmth and smiles and rememberence.

The Art of a great chief is one which makes you feel that here, and only here the rewards of his/her art of wonderful enjoyment of your ordered choice is found. The Lighthouse menu is a plethora of offerings to make you want to stay forever to sample it all...The Lighthouse brings all of this to you and us, we say Thank You, and our return is forever promised ...