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Art explodes out of Glen Ellen

Some weeks there's so little news in Glen Ellen that I have to hit the streets to drum up a little. Other weeks, there's so much I feel my limited space is a torture.

This week presents the latter. So, my friends, you will get merely a taste of what's to see and do in Glen Ellen this week. Stay tuned in the columns to come for more news about these talented local folks and others.

First up is artist, designer and flower girl Natasha Drengson, daughter of Sue Braito, my O'Donnell Lane neighbor, and sister to the two talented ladies, Charissa Drengsen and Amy Tamano. But as I said, more about the others in another column.

This week, 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 1, Tasha (as she's been known to me since she was a little girl at Three Springs Ranch) will be hosting a book signing at Andy Weinberger's Readers' Books in downtown Sonoma. It's worth the trek south.

Tasha's new book is a winner: a simple heart-warming adventure story of three friends with all illustrations created from Tasha's prolific, creative mind. It's charming, innocent and has a dreamily impossible story that stays with you. I'd almost say haunts you, but since I mean it in the best of terms, I'll say it becomes a dream vision. It's the trip we all want to take; the friends we all want to have. The book is titled "Hula Girl, Moose, and Penguin: Looking for the Art."

And art indeed, they do discover. According to Tasha's mom, Sue, Tasha spent more than three years perfecting the paintings that are the basis of this little book, re-working each to be the vision she sought. And they are delightful, a bit reminiscent of H.A. Rey's "Curious George" pictures that were featured this year in an exhibit at the San Francisco's Contemporary Jewish Museum (the old waterworks). I also can get a glimpse of the Hula girl all grown up and becoming the "little old lady" from the Babar books.

Hula girl is everywoman: strong, independent, curious and well-traveled. We'll have more about Tasha and her talented sisters in columns to come.

For now I want to bring you news of another two of my favorite local artists. This Saturday, Sept. 3, from noon until 6 p.m. at the Glen Ellen Art House Gallery, next door to the imposing Chauvet, a local art show features Archie Horton and Patrick McMurtry. The postcard announcing this show promises music in the Sculpture Garden (behind the gallery, I assume), hors d'oeuvers and local wines, along with lots of art by local folks. My affection for Archie and Patrick's works has to do with their mutual - but different - fantasy visions of our town. Archie creates an ideal Glen Ellen, a small town paradise while Patrick projects a life force onto the natural environment that makes it hum, and even sing, with life. You'll love their visions of our town. Along with these two talented men, you'll also find small works by artists Pamela Wallace, Debbie Harding, Bob Sweeny, Tom Moyer, Linda Gamble, Donna Seltzer and Jamil Gormley.

Next week I'll have stories from August's wonderful Glen Ellen Historical Society presentation on Jack London, as well as news about our upcoming Glen Ellen Village Fair (slated for Oct. 9, this year) and more, including rescued horses, honored nurses, more marrying folks from Glen Ellen and even a little bit of good gossip about winemakers. I've got a new mountain lion story that is so personal it sets my nape hairs arise. See you at the gallery and bookstore.

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Share your good news with friends and neighbors in Glen Ellen. Call or write me at the numbers up there by my smile. Or email me at creekbottom@earthlink.net. Glen Ellen chatter rarely requires timeliness; however, if your news does, please be sure to contact me at least two weeks before the run date.