This Warrior's Dream
August 3, 2012 4:20 PM Subscribe
This Warrior's Dream
The drawings of Ron Franciere • Circa 1967 - 1988
The drawings of Ron Franciere • Circa 1967 - 1988
Role: Finder
This project was posted to MetaFilter by unliteral on August 21, 2012: This Warrior's Dream
Picked them up at a flea market near Chicago. I ran into many dead ends trying to find information on him. I posted some images on my website Bighappyfunhouse. I received emails that held a few stories of Ron and his life - but nothing ever lead me to contacting Ron Franciere. Then, I received an anonymous comment on my website.
"I do know the artist that drew these. He is in a senior care facility in MN where my Dad currently resides. He has quite a few additional drawings on his walls and in a portfolio case. He is a fascinating man with many incredible stories."
I asked the commenter to contact me - but he never did. My website system allows me to see the IP address of people who leave comments. I did a quick search of that anonymous commenter. It lead me to a small town in Minnesota. The next step was to Google all of the retirement homes in the area. The list was small.
I called each home and ask to speak with Ron Franciere. On the third call, the person who answered the phone said. (in a very Minnesota accent) "Oh ya want to speak with Ron? Hold on a sec and I'll get him for you.".
I really didn't know how to start the conversation. But when he got on the phone it was like I had dialed up an old friend. We just started talking - and the words just flowed. Speaking to Ron, I felt as if he was reading directly from one of his drawings. He started to tell me the story of his life -and the story of his art.
We had many phone conversations over the next few weeks. I can't even begin to explain how fascinating this man is. The stories he told were amazing.... most of it was the way he told them. He was an artist with his speech as well as with his drawings.
He asked me to come up to visit him. I made the trip up to Minnesota and spent the afternoon with Ron Franciere. Over lunch at a local restaurant, he talked about his art, his life, his adventures. We talked about setting up a site to let people see his art. He loved the idea.
I recently called to speak with Ron - and was told he had passed away.
posted by Bighappyfunhouse at 7:32 PM on August 5, 2012 [4 favorites]
"I do know the artist that drew these. He is in a senior care facility in MN where my Dad currently resides. He has quite a few additional drawings on his walls and in a portfolio case. He is a fascinating man with many incredible stories."
I asked the commenter to contact me - but he never did. My website system allows me to see the IP address of people who leave comments. I did a quick search of that anonymous commenter. It lead me to a small town in Minnesota. The next step was to Google all of the retirement homes in the area. The list was small.
I called each home and ask to speak with Ron Franciere. On the third call, the person who answered the phone said. (in a very Minnesota accent) "Oh ya want to speak with Ron? Hold on a sec and I'll get him for you.".
I really didn't know how to start the conversation. But when he got on the phone it was like I had dialed up an old friend. We just started talking - and the words just flowed. Speaking to Ron, I felt as if he was reading directly from one of his drawings. He started to tell me the story of his life -and the story of his art.
We had many phone conversations over the next few weeks. I can't even begin to explain how fascinating this man is. The stories he told were amazing.... most of it was the way he told them. He was an artist with his speech as well as with his drawings.
He asked me to come up to visit him. I made the trip up to Minnesota and spent the afternoon with Ron Franciere. Over lunch at a local restaurant, he talked about his art, his life, his adventures. We talked about setting up a site to let people see his art. He loved the idea.
I recently called to speak with Ron - and was told he had passed away.
posted by Bighappyfunhouse at 7:32 PM on August 5, 2012 [4 favorites]
Bighappyfunhouse, that story is amazing; you should put it up, along with more about his adventures, at the Tumblr.
posted by mediareport at 5:34 AM on August 13, 2012
posted by mediareport at 5:34 AM on August 13, 2012
Just added story.
Will be adding more details about Ron Franciere shortly.
Thanks!
posted by Bighappyfunhouse at 10:44 AM on August 13, 2012
Will be adding more details about Ron Franciere shortly.
Thanks!
posted by Bighappyfunhouse at 10:44 AM on August 13, 2012
Posted to the blue - I didn't know it was here or I'd have used the button. Thanks carsonb.
posted by unliteral at 6:31 PM on August 21, 2012
posted by unliteral at 6:31 PM on August 21, 2012
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posted by cjorgensen at 6:47 AM on August 5, 2012