Our dear friend, Riverfront supporter, and artist, Conci Denniston passed away on November 18th, 2019. Conci was a quiet force to be reckoned with. She was perpetually curious, unfailingly kind, and knew her stuff. Conci was a wonderful visual artist. Her choice of colors, subject matter, and sense of movement were stories in and of themselves. She participated in Riverfront and the Collaborators offering very perceptive feedback. She was a listener and a shrewd observer of human behavior. If you were lucky enough to visit Conci in her home in Emporia or Fairway, Kansas, it was like entering a magical, warm, and fun world. Her home and gardens were remarkable. Conci was busy and on the go until the day she died. In our last Riverfront Reading in 2019, we featured her artwork; much of the work on display was new. She attended a Writers Place Reading two days before she died. As was her way, she probably chatted with just about everyone in attendance. It’s hard to imagine life without her. We offer our deep-felt condolences to her family and children; Megan, Ethan, and Owen and her many friends.
A celebration and memorial, art show, poetry reading, and open mic will be on Saturday, January 11th from 12:00 to 3:00pm at the Union Pacific Depot, 402 N. 2nd Street, Lawrence, KS. In lieu of flowers, donation may be made to the Phil Miller Scholarship. KCKCC Foundation, 7250 State Avenue, rm 3500, Kansas City, Kanasas 66112. Please note the donation is in memory of Conci Denniston.
To donate online via PayPal or credit card:
- Go to https://kckcc.edu/foundation/giving/index.html
- Click on the blue box that says "Donate to the KCKCC Foundation."
- Choose your payment method and follow on-screen directions. When asked to specify a program or given the opportunity to add a note, enter "Philip W. Miller Memorial Scholarship."
Painting by Conci Denniston