OCEANSIDE —— Artwork isn't the only thing that the Oceanside Museum of Art will need once it is expanded to more than six times its size.

Expert eyes will be in high demand, officials said.

That's why the museum recently hired Catherine Gleason, 45, as its director of exhibitions and collections.

The museum —— a 5,000-square-foot gallery that will be transformed into a 32,000-square-foot giant over the next five years —— has to get a jump-start gathering the professional opinions and skills it will need to fill the tall white walls of the museum galleries, said the museum's assistant director, Beth Smith.

Gleason, who started her new post Dec. 19, is a curator specializing in modern and contemporary California art. She spent the last few years teaching art at Mount San Jacinto College in Riverside County and almost a decade working the galleries at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido.

The Oceanside resident, who will now be able to walk to work in the heart of downtown Oceanside, said she's happy to be a part of a growing museum.

The art museum, which sits in a white stucco building along Pier View Way, is scheduled to break ground on its expansion sometime this spring. It is to be done by phases, with the first phase completed by 2007.

The expanded museum will take over about a quarter of a city block and be home to a permanent collection featuring San Diego artists.

Gleason, who is no stranger to local artists, was a perfect fit, Smith said.

"She's been here for four days and it seems as though she's always been here," Smith added.

Museum Director Skip Pahl said Gleason comes at a perfect time.

"We are fortunate to have someone with Catherine's background and expertise guiding our exhibition and collections program as we approach groundbreaking on the museum's expansion," he said in a statement.

"She is coming on board at a pivotal moment in the museum's history and will be an asset to our plans for the future."

As for the newcomer herself, Gleason said she's happy to be in on the excitement.

She has been a regular at Oceanside's art museum openings, meetings, and other functions and said she feels lucky to be part of the staff now.

During her first week on the job, she didn't have much to say about her plans for the museum. She said she has got her dream job, though.

"I love museum work," she said. "You are always working with new artists and new things. It's always changing and always challenging."

A new staff member isn't the only thing making news at the museum.

It is almost done raising the $5.3 million it needs to pay for its expansion. As of Dec. 22, a little more than $5 million was in the bank, Smith said.

Contact staff writer Louise Esola at (760) 901-4151 or lesola@nctimes.com.