WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, DECEMI3ER 9, 1987, PAGE 19 Tributes are paid as expanded gallery opens The "vision" of Isabel McLaughlin, "driving force" of Joan Murray and sales pitch of Bill Nurse were among the tributes paid Saturday afternoon as the newly expanded Robert McLaughlin Gallery was opened in Oshawa beside city hall. Invited guests briefly toured the 37,000 sq. ft. -facility designed by noted architect Arthur Erickson (bis trademark skylight is more than 100 feet long in the lobby) before jamming into one of the viewing roomns for opening ceremnonies. "Truly the community is a great benefactor of this project," stated Ronald Worboy, gallery president. "It is indeed a measure of the cultural maturity of our citizens," noted Oshawa Mayor Allan Pilkey. Oshawa MP and NDP leader Ed Broadbent said modern society has flot yet approached the lofty cultural perspective held by the an- dient Greeks. But he hoped that the expanded facility would help bring. an increased esteem for art. He noted the essenial efforts of McLaughlin, a longtime painter who has made a significant donation of works to the gallery, in- cluding her own, and Murray, a Whitby resident who is curator of the gallery. He added that although "not every day 1 can praise the federal government," he could on this oc- casion because of their contribution to the building. Worboy noted the "exhaustive work" by building committee chairman Mae Nurse and fun- draising campaign and site representative, Bill Nurse. "Without him, this would not be here," said Isabel McLaughlin of Bill Nurse of Whitby, who was also described by regional chairman SEE PAGE 30 AMONG those taking part in the donor Isabel MeLaughlin, NDP leader opening ceremonies for the expanded Ed Broadbent and curator Joan McLaughlin Gallery were (from left) Murray.. Free Press photo architect Arthur Erickson, artist and Christma s AmS ee We welcomne you to advertise ail your Special Christ7las and New Years Menus and Special eventS Stay homre, Relax watch a movie and order in Chinese F"o Deliejous and hot, Mmm, why not? - - li