Expert Guides

Jack Barry - has years of experience as a naturalist/historian, and has been a Native America guide for Library Associates tours since 1984. He worked as a ranger in Yellowstone National Park and retired as a biologist for the U.S. Forest Service.
 

Greg Kondos - A long-time resident of Sacramento, Kondos has a deep love of the region which is communicated again and again in his canvases. It’s no surprise since Sacramento is where Greg grew up: studying, teaching and perfecting his art. Since his first local exhibit in 1962, he has participated in numerous solo and group exhibits nationwide and has been the recipient of many awards.

Ralph Kunkee - received both his Bachelor and PhD degrees in Biochemistry at the University of California, Berkeley. In 1960, he returned to the University of California, Davis campus. After two years of biochemical research on a National Science Foundation project, he accepted a position in the Department of Viticulture and Enology as a Professor of Enology.
 

Alan Dismuke - Alan Dismuke is an independent curator and art consultant who has worked for a number of fine art galleries and alternative exhibition spaces around northern California and the Central Valley since 1986. In that time he has personally arranged over 300 art exhibitions and has advanced a broad range of artists toward successful careers.

Alan is also a photographer and graphic designer, an avid art collector, and shares his enthusiasm for fine art and the artists who create it by leading several art travel tours each year. These include an annual Art Glass tour of the Seattle area, the galleries and museums of New York City, and tracing the evolution of Modern Art through the back streets and museums of Paris.

He lives and works in the historic Mansion Flats district in downtown Sacramento.

June Hager - June has just returned to the US after almost 20 years in Italy. Her book "Pilgrimage," (a chronicle of 2,000 years of Rome's history as told through its churches and monuments) is in its second edition. She is an art historian and journalist and has written numerous articles on the art and history of Italy. Ms. Hager has lead our art viewing excursions in Florence, Siena and Arezzo. Her newest journey will be guiding On Tours to Sicily.  Her fluency in Italian, sensitivity to local culture and attention to each tour participant make June a wonderful guide.

Diane Tempest - A graduate of the International Tour Management Institute, Ms. Tempest has directed tours to over 20 International and Domestic destinations. Diane is also owner of Galleria Tempest, an amazing art gallery located in midtown, Sacramento. “I think we can learn a lot about different cultures by the way they express themselves through the arts be it music, dance, painting or sculpture.

Blake Stimson - Assistant Professor of Art History at University of California, Davis and authority on modern and contemporary art and the history of photography. Professor Stimson will give three gallery talks on special exhibitions featured at selected museums on the Focus on Paris 2004 itinerary.

Melissa Chandon is an artist and grew up on a family ranch  outside of Winters, California and she continues to draw inspiration from that landscape, often returning to sketch and draw the familiar surroundings. The views from the ranch house flow from the coastal range to the vast openness of the surrounding farmland.    She currently resides in Northern California.
www.melissachandon.com


Philippe Gandiol was born in Paris and moved to California in 1975.   He spent many years working for the music industry and has been painting full time since 2002.  He has  pursued art for most of his life and has been painting with oils for  16 years.  Philippe, a self taught artist took art classes in France,  San Francisco and Sacramento.  He also studied  with experienced California artists.  For the last five years, his passion has been plein air painting.  His daily routine consists of painting outside alone or with fellow artists and  working in his studio located in Davis, California.  http://www.philippegandiol.com

Roy Engoron - A long time Davis resident. He holds a masters degree from the University of California, Davis with a specialty in directing. He has appeared in over 100 stage productions, and directed close to 70.

Nancy Servis - Nancy Servis is a regionally recognized art historian, curator and arts educator. For more than ten years she has lead day trips to urban museums and sojourns to art centers like New York, Chicago, Sante Fe and Los Angeles. Exploring landmark art venues and private, behind-the-scenes opportunities are characteristic of her educational emphasis.
 

Jon Rubin - Founder of the International Travel Forum Jon Rubin is a political professional, documentarian and world traveler with more than 30 years experience in the public relations, political and legislative process. He has worked in 3 Presidential campaigns and many state and local campaigns. As a public relations consultant Jon has represented public and private sector clients that include municipalities, transportation agencies, hospitality and retail groups, energy and development corporations. Read more about Jon.
 

 

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