Napa Art Gallery Plans To Open While Ignoring Executive Order

NAPA, CA — A Napa fine art gallery that has been been closed for six weeks plans to reopen its doors to the public Monday morning. In doing so, owners Quent and Linda Cordair will be violating an executive order that prevents nonessential businesses from being open as the coronavirus pandemic continues.

The couple, which operates Quent Cordair Fine Art has made local and state officials aware of their plans and, in an open letter to the public that was published this week in the Napa Valley Register, the couple insist they are prepared to face fines, arrest and jail and are preparing resources for a legal battle – all the way up to the U.S. Supreme Court if needed -all in the name of keeping their business alive.

Attempts to reach the couple on Thursday were unsuccessful.

“There can be no life without work; there can be no work without liberty; and, with so many others, we’re increasingly unhappy being unable to work and live for lack of liberty,” the couple wrote in their letter. “The present situation is untenable, unacceptable and unjustifiable. Not dying is not living.”

According to the letter, the gallery supports the work of 30 artists that rely on the gallery being open to support their families. The couple said they have employees to pay and bills to pay and have worked too hard over the past 24 years to “sit passively” and watch their business die.

The couple has vowed to reopen their gallery while adhering to social distancing guidelines. But to remain closed at a time when Napa County has experienced 67 confirmed coronavirus cases and two deaths that have been reported, the couple said, is unacceptable. The couple has pointed to other stores and businesses that have been allowed to reopen and claim that they will be as safe – if not more – than big box stores and grocery markets that have been deemed essential.

“It’s past time to start re-opening the local economy, with care, sensible precautions, continued and increased testing, and attentive monitoring,” the couple wrote.

They added: “We’re going back to work. We hope to see you in the gallery soonest, hopefully to enjoy the art. If not, know that we’re prepared to defend our right to live, work, and interact freely, and that we will indeed defend our right to do so, if and as necessary.”