Save Gilbert Collections

As an educator and art historian who for the last 30 years has been committed to enhancing the cultural life of our community, I read with surprise and sadness of the imminent departure of the Gilbert collections from the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (“LACMA Will Remove Trustee’s Collection,” April 18).

Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert’s collections of silver, micro-mosaic and gold boxes are likely valued at well over $150 million and their intrinsic value is even greater. What an inestimable loss to our community if we can no longer share in viewing objects whose beauty and history recall supreme moments of human creativity and the exaltation of human spirit. Too often in our daily lives we are reminded of the dark side of human nature; don’t take from our midst something that celebrates it.

The removal of the Gilbert collection will leave an unfillable void, for such a collection can never again be assembled. We are a world-class city; how can we allow this collection, admired and recognized through the world, to leave us?

MUMSEY NEMIROFF

Beverly Hills