Featured Artist – Frank McNab

The Calling of the Council

Frank McNab

Caravaggio in the West End!

For the month of August Cafe Bru in the west end’s Thornwood will be exhibiting a major work by artist Frank McNab based on Caravaggio’s Calling of Saint Matthew.
The painting is titled “The Calling of the Council” and refers to the monthly meeting of friends who met in Cafe Bru (when it was called St Louis). These friends referred humorously to themselves as “The Cooncil” and met to solve the world’s problems.
Frank McNab says, “This painting is a celebration of friendship and a historical record.”

Members of “the cooncil”:
Craig Munro coined the name and was a wonderful driving force behind the group. Craig died in 2020 of cancer which meant he endured severe disfigurement in the last years of his life.
Professor Willy Maley works at Glasgow University and is a well-known figure in literature, and the arts. He is also an author, playwright, and poet.
Dini Power is also a writer and artist. She has been a teacher and librarian (two of the most important professions) and has worked in the film industry and in editing.
Christina Gallacher worked in pub management and healthcare and healthcare. She is another driving force in the “cooncil”.
Stuart Christie was a Scottish anarchist writer and publisher. When aged 18, Christie was arrested while carrying explosives to assassinate the Spanish caudillo, General Francisco Franco. He was later alleged to be a member of the Angry Brigade but was acquitted of related charges. Stuart died in 2020.
Allan Tall is a veteran actor, musician, and composer. He has performed in many TV series and has toured Europe with Scottish Theatre companies. Although popular and well-loved for his wonderful live music performances, Allan now devotes much of his time to his painting and writing.
Frank McNab, the artist, lived in Thornwood till August last year. Just before he left Thornwood he was in discussion with the Mayor of the Montmartre district in Paris with the intention of creating a link between the two communities and helping to bring Thornwood to Glasgow’s attention as a thriving and creative area.