Glaswegian writer Michael Meighan tells us he plans to profile Hannah Frank in his forthcoming book, ‘Glaswegians with a Flourish’. Michael bought a signed copy of ‘Moon Ballet’ when he was a student which he gave to his parents in the 1970s.
“I was struck by the drawings’ clear fluid lines and the balanced contrast of black against white. The drawing still hangs in my parent’s house,” he tells us.
The book will reproduce an image of ‘Moon Ballet’ as well as a photograph of Hannah.
The Hannah Frank prints’ exhibition at Lancaster’s Gregson Arts and Community Centre has a dramatic opening on 7 December because Fiona is snowed into her flat in Glasgow. By the wonders of Skype technology she launches opens the show ‘virtually’ while members of the Lancaster’s Jewish community like the Chanukah candles watched by friends and Hannah Frank fans. The exhibition ends on 4 January.
Cristin Sarg, a Master’s graduated from Glasgow University, is at the Scottish Jewish Archives Centre cataloguing part of the collection. The Hannah Frank and Lionel Levy Archive collection comprises certificates, letters, albums, and art books. Once completed, the catalogued collection will be accessed by researchers looking at the history of art, women in Glasgow, the history of Glasgow Jewry, Glasgow intellectual life, and women artists.
The original drawing of ‘Woman with Book’, 1928, goes to Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia. Emeritus Professor Vincent Megaw from the university’s Department of Archaeology, explains why: “My wife – a Glasgow graduate – and I hold honorary positions in the University of Glasgow Department of Archaeology. We have a flat in Glasgow and became aware of Hannah Frank’s work. I personally was attracted to the work because of the obvious link with the work of earlier as well as contemporary black-and-white artists as well as the Jewish link (my mother came from a Dutch Jewish family). The work will be housed with our on-campus reserve collections.”
Two of the Norwich private collection drawings are bought by two fans. These drawings have not been seen in public for 30 years.
Fiona helps out journalist Caroline Wilson, who has written many articles for us in the Herald and Glasgow Evening Times, when she asks for a donation of a Hannah Frank drawing as part of a fundraiser organised by the Glasgow Parsonage Choir last month. They raise £1700 for Panzi hospital in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which supports women and children affected by rape during military conflict. The very appropriate drawing of ‘Dream’ -showing two women entwined – was raffled as part of the fundraiser.