Nassan Gobran, a well-educated artist from Egypt  is credited with turning Sedona, Arizona into an art mecca. He was in Cecil Lockhat-Smith's jewelry store one day in 1958 when he overheard several members of the chamber of commrce talking in the next room.  Someone was saying, "We need something different in Sedona, something new and exciting.."

Tall, slim Gobran bounded into the room. "I have what Sedona needs. I have the most important industry for Sedona.  And that's art! We should start an arts center here!" He elaborated energentically on the subject of galleries, classes, theater, exhibits, concerts, and even ballet.

Invited to speak at the chamber meeting that evening, he was very convincing. "Sedona could be put on the map through art—to have a great cultural center right here among these red rocks. I talked to them with all my heart, and then I left."

Apparently he got his message through. Volunteerism began at a rate the inhabitants had never seen before.  The board of directors and members cleaned up the barn (yes, there was a barn) and grounds, memberships were sold, art shows hung, and newspaper articles written. Contractor John Yoynt supervised the construction work. His perky wife, Isabel, was activei n fun-raising. The Sedona Ats Center's enthusiastic Barnstormers sold souvenir cookbooks to raise money. Al Nestler, an artist of note, temporarily became a janitor before he became an art instructor.  There was a lot of cleaning up to do.

Sedona, Arizona has become important in the art world, and it all began with a man of vision, Nassan Gobran.

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That is a small example of the way I write history.  I never liked the subject in school—dates and events to be memorized to prepare for tests. I don't mind taking chances, so most of my books have been in a narrative style, full of lively personalities who actually had creative natures. I'm pleased with this.

Several of my books have been published by traditional publishers, but now I go for on-demand companies.  This book can be ordered directly from CreateSpace.com, Kindle, Amazon.com, or any bookstores will gladly order it for you.

See the review by James Bishop, Jr. elsewhere on this website.