24 Artscene Oakville Beaver · WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2007 www.oakvillebeaver.com Artist and writer team up to explore Tuscany A complete vacation book is in the works thanks to Tuscany native Giuseppe Dini and local artist Dawn Angela Seeley. An Adventure in Tuscany with the Friendly Tuscan Wolf includes 16 daily excursions, maps, paintings and a children's story of daily parables. This book is for families, groups or single people who want to visit charming areas of Tuscany and experience the charm of the Tiber Valley in a simple and relaxing way. This natural setting is still unspoiled and well preserved both from panoramic and historical points of view. Over several years, co-author Giuseppe Dini began developing tourism in his birthplace near Anghiari in Tuscany. There, he met Canadian jazz musician, Elmer Gill, who later bought an old country house, which he restored and made available to his Canadian friends for vacations over the years. It's thanks to his Canadian friends and friends of those friends, that many Canadians have chosen the medieval village of Anghiari as their second home, rebuilding old country houses, which date from the 1400-1800s. Seeley takes art groups to this area every year and stays in some of these beautiful old country houses. Dini collaborated with Seeley in 2006 to paint the landscapes of the area and to cowrite a tour book in English incorporating her excursions and the unique Legend of Beppino the Friendly Tuscan Wolf, which is the life story of Dini growing up in this wild area of Tuscany. This will be presented in the book as a compilation of parables for a children's story with one in each of the excursion days. The life story of the character Beppino continues until he was 20 years of age and the adventures take place in and around Anghiari where the excursions begin. Most of the beautiful, tranquil landscape and buildings remain the same as when Dini was a boy. EYE ON TUSCANY: Surveying an artistic rendering of Tuscany are Dawn Angela Seeley, Oakville artist and Artists' Get-Away tour facilitator to Tuscany and Giuseppe Dini from Tuscany. The two are co-authors of the book An Adventure in Tuscany with the Friendly Tuscan Wolf. The book will give travelers helpful tips on traveling in Italy, taking them by the hand with suggestions and itineraries for daily excursions that will take them to charming small medieval villages, the Chianti, an olive oil factory established in 1421, as well as the beautiful cities of Perugia, Assisi, Firenze, Cortona and Arezzo. There are more than 24 paintings of landscapes, monuments, and still lifes in Tuscany that Seeley painted on-location while researching and co-writing this book, representing all the places that the authors suggest their friends and tourists should visit. There is huge expectation awaiting this book in Italy, from the mayor of Anghiari to the economic operators of the area. Dini is currently staying as a guest in Oakville until Jan. 30. The authors are currently looking for publishers in Canada, the U.S., England and Australia while the book is being published in Italian in Italy. Dini can be contacted at dinigiuseppe@libero.it or 011 39 360 706537. Seeley's next Artist Get-Away to Tuscany is June 9-21 for adults and June 28-July 11 for families. She is hosting two Open House sessions at Timothy's World Coffee in Oakville on Sunday afternoon, Jan. 28 and Monday night, Jan. 29. To reserve, call 416-917-2772, e-mail dawnangela@artyfacts.ca or visit www.artyfacts.ca. Medieval village of Anghiari Although there are many books published about Tuscany, wine and cuisine, this one will be the first of its kind, with the medieval village of Anghiari as the friendly host for these daily excursions, the charming life story of the co-author and the paintings by Seeley. & Make Your Home Comfort More Affordable BUT not at Halton Linen LENNOX SALE CENTRAL AIR & FURNACE ® Up to WAR EH OPE OUSE N E SAT VERY URD AY NEW N! ATIO LOC $ 1000 * Instant Rebate *10 Yea rs Parts & Labour Warranty NO PAYMENT! Financing Available *Call for Details NO INTEREST! As Low As $ 3995 /month FOR 6 MONTHS AND O.A.C. *OAC NO DUCTS · NO PROBLEM Save $350 on ductless air conditioners W E S T 7 locations to serve you better! 905-849-4998 www.aireone.com 1-888-827-2665