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California

Art Collectors and Their Collections

Program No. 1183RJ
Discover the beauty of Southern California’s best museums, enjoying lectures, docent-led walks and a close look at the life and collections of local art enthusiasts.
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Art History & MuseumsMost PopularHistoryCity DiscoveriesSmall Group
Length
6 days
Rating (4.92)
Activity Level
Starts at
1,899

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6 days
5 nights
10 meals
5B 1L 4D
1
Check-in, Registration, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
Los Angeles
2
Los Angeles Collectors, Norton Simon Museum
Los Angeles
3
J. Paul Getty Museum Lecture & Visit
Los Angeles
4
Lecture, Huntington Library & Botanical Gardens
Los Angeles
5
Lecture, Museum of Contemporary Art, The Broad
Los Angeles
6
Collections Management Lecture, Program Concludes
Los Angeles
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At a Glance

Be treated to several of Southern California’s finest art museums and leave the driving to us! The Los Angeles area’s distinguished collections are on display in several grand museums. Daily in-depth lectures prior to the visits provide an orientation to the museums that enriches your appreciation of their visionary collectors.
Activity Level
On Your Feet
Five museum field trips involve several blocks of walking at a time and standing up to one hour on docent tours. Must be able to easily get on/off bus.

Best of all, you’ll…

  • Study the life of J. Paul Getty and examine his collections of Western art from the Middle Ages to the present against a backdrop of dramatic architecture, tranquil gardens and breathtaking views of the city.
  • Experience the museum of Arabella and Henry Huntington, with 207 acres of gardens.
  • Discover Norton Simon’s collection of art from Europe and Asia on a docent-led walk.

General Notes

Select dates are designated for small groups and are limited to 24 participants or less. If not specified as a small group date, departures will have up to 34 participants. For a comparable adventure for women travelers only led by a female group leader, check out "Art Collectors and Their Collections for Women" (#25121).
Featured Expert
All trip experts
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Paul R. Spitzzeri
A California historian and author of numerous works on such topics as railroad development and regulation, overland emigration, and criminal justice, Paul R. Spitzzeri received his bachelor’s and master’s in history from California State University, Fullerton. He is Museum Director of the Workman and Temple Family Homestead Museum near Los Angeles and an Award of Merit recipient from the American Association for State and Local History for his biography of the Workman and Temple families.

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Profile Image of Paul Spitzzeri
Paul R. Spitzzeri View biography
A California historian and author of numerous works on such topics as railroad development and regulation, overland emigration, and criminal justice, Paul R. Spitzzeri received his bachelor’s and master’s in history from California State University, Fullerton. He is Museum Director of the Workman and Temple Family Homestead Museum near Los Angeles and an Award of Merit recipient from the American Association for State and Local History for his biography of the Workman and Temple families.
Profile Image of Donna Granata
Donna Granata View biography
Donna Granata is the founder and executive director of Focus on the Masters (FOTM), a highly respected nonprofit archive and educational program documenting contemporary artists. An accomplished artist in her own right, Granata is an internationally published portrait photographer. Her photographs have been displayed across the United States. Selected works from her FOTM portrait series are housed in the Smithsonian's Archive of American Artists; in the photographic collection of the George Eastman Museum and other public institutions housing the personal archives of the artists documented.
Profile Image of Simon Kenrick
Simon Kenrick View biography
A 23-year veteran of Road Scholar, Simon was previously a political journalist, neighborhood artist and kindergarten teacher. He teaches art history at San Francisco State University and Osher Lifelong Learning in Berkeley. Widely traveled in the U.S. and Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, he brings to life his personal knowledge of works and sites in his Road Scholar talks, museum and architectural tours—from Classical Greece and Rome to medieval Morocco, Impressionist Paris and the cutting-edge arts of the contemporary city.
Profile Image of Nadine Bopp
Nadine Bopp View biography
Nadine Bopp taught sustainable architecture, urban planning, botany, and environmental science courses at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Columbia College, and DePaul University for 19 years. She has a master’s degree in landscape architecture and worked for the Chicago Park District, running the operations for 124 parks. As a lifelong environmentalist, she continues to broaden her knowledge by exploring drought-tolerant landscape design, water conservation, and California’s landscape ecosystems. She enjoys teaching about Southern California’s gardens, architecture, and botanical diversity.
Profile Image of Karyn Benkendorfer
Karyn Benkendorfer View biography
Karyn Benkendorfer is a native Californian who has a B.A. in communications arts – film and television from Loyola Marymount University. She is also a graduate of ITMI’s International tour management program. Karyn is a passionate storyteller, photographer, writer, and teacher. She is energized by engaging with people, sharing stories and experiences. On her daily walks, she logs 5-8 miles. She is an active volunteer with Opera League Los Angeles.
Profile Image of Dave McMenamin
Dave McMenamin View biography
Dave McMenamin, a lifelong native of Los Angeles, has a degree in mathematics from Occidental College, and a master's and Ph.D. in economics from UCLA. Dave taught economics at Occidental College for three years while working on his Ph.D. He then joined a company in downtown Los Angeles, holding many varied positions for over 35 years until his retirement in 2016. Dave is a docent and the director of education with Las Angelitas del Pueblo, a volunteer organization dedicated to preserving the city's history.
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