That title reminds me of the opening chapter in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, 'The Other Minister' but, as far as I know, the other Frankie doesn't materialise from the flames in an office fireplace.
This Frankie Brown is a Hampshire artist (my own home county) who specialises in linocuts. Inspired by fairy tales and old stories, her work has been a lovely discovery for me. I've just bought myself a small print of her Catch a Falling Star linocut.
Falling stars remind me of Donne's song 'Go and catch a falling star' which sounds magical but is actually about how rare a constant woman is or perhaps Beatrice's line in 'Much Ado About Nothing' - 'there was a star danced, and under that was I born'. The artist refers to catching a star granting you a wish which is a lovely thought, although, in my family, we attribute that to catching falling leaves (a bit easier than stars). Each one grants you a happy day in the year to come which is a pleasing thought at this time of the year. Here in England the leaves on the trees are just starting to turn.
