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Remembering Kenneth R. Ferguson

Artist Ken Ferguson
Artist Ken Ferguson

One of Kansas City's most respected artists Ken Ferguson passed away in December. In April, a memorial service was held in his honor.

By Laura Spencer

Kansas City, Missouri – Memorial service for Ken Ferguson, Saturday, April 2, 2005 at Community Christian Church, 4601 Main St., Kansas City, Missouri.

Ceramic artist Ken Ferguson started as a functional potter but shifted to sculptural ceramics, mixing animal figures with vessel forms. Ferguson combined exhibiting his work with a long teaching career, including 32 years as chair of the ceramics department at the Kansas City Art Institute. Ferguson died in December at the age of 75 after a long illness - and this weekend, family and friends hold a celebration in his honor. KCUR's Laura Spencer talked to retired KCAI professor Victor Babu and Tim Barry (1982 KCAI alum) about their remembrances.

Ken Ferguson's obituary in The Kansas City Star

Photographs by Mike Sinclair of Ken Ferguson?s studio

Support your local potter bracelets
to support the Kenneth R. Ferguson Foundation (administered by the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation) to benefit the arts in the Kansas City area.

Kansas City is known for its style of jazz, influenced by the blues, as the home of Walt Disney’s first animation studio and the headquarters of Hallmark Cards. As one of KCUR’s arts reporters, I want people here to know a wide range of arts and culture stories from across the metropolitan area. I take listeners behind the scenes and introduce them to emerging artists and organizations, as well as keep up with established institutions. Send me an email at lauras@kcur.org or follow me on Twitter @lauraspencer.
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