Fran Bouwman Sculpture Gallery

The evolution of The Fairy Tree... Ted, the rather mythological chef who runs Ted’s Range Road Diner, asked me to carve the ancient Spruce tree that stood in front of his restaurant. The tree was dying and Ted was loath to cut it down. I was absolutely thrilled with his proposal since I had been a long-standing customer and waitress at this very unique and rather surreal establishment. I had spent many a night dancing into the wee hours of the morning at Ted’s renowned Wednesday night jams. During my many years interacting with the staff and clientele I came to realize how truly magical the place was. And so, suddenly the whole idea of carving something for Ted’s Range Road Diner took on enormous proportions for me personally.  The question that kept running through my head was, “How would I ever be able to create something that could live up to the uniqueness of this place?”  I was afraid.  I racked my brain with what I could carve. Finally I came up with the idea to carve a spiral bar scene that would make its way down the tree.  The scaffolding was set up by one of the restaurant’s patrons and I set out to work. To my utter dismay I came to realize that the tree was completely rotten. To carve anything significant was impossible.  I was distraught. I told Ted that we would have to get a new tree if I was to pursue the project. He flat out said, “No.”  He wanted that tree and that tree only.  It meant something to him.  He looked me straight in the eye and said, “Don’t worry Franny, I have faith, you’ll come up with something.”  Well, easy for him to say.  How could I possibly carve something out of nothing? I became obsessed with what to do.  After my father (whose helping hands and expertise made this all possible) and I cut down the limbs, I chipped away at the outside of the tree, and tried to keep my heart and mind open.  Ted came out to see the growing pile of cut out wood and said that his kids would be excited to see the woodpile getting larger as they loved to watch big and scary bonfires.  When Ted said that to me, things started to fall into place. I began to see things.  I saw his little girl, standing in front of the fire, completely mesmerized and happy.  But instead of the fire, she would be standing in front of the tree. And what could possibly be in a tree that would cause such a little girl to stand so still?  Fairies.  And there you have it.  I cut out the three 5ft holes in the tree and then proceeded to carve the three sleeping fairies in my studio.  The fairies are supported by re-bar in the tree. The idea of the fire was fortunately not lost.  Since the tree was in need some extra support, Earl, another local, came up with the idea to place four posts around the tree and support it with wire.  I carved these four posts into fire flames to give the sculpture a more defined, sacred space.