Richard Renner said nearly two weeks after he lost his Lawrence home in a fire, he’s leaning into his philosophical side.
“The idea that life is change and change is either chosen or unchosen, and no matter what kind of change it is, the resistance to it is the painful part,” Renner said. “Acceptance, grace and support from others make the challenging moments easier.”
Renner, the creative behind the Lawrence Busker Festival, said the local community and friends from afar responded immediately after learning a fire had spread across his home of 23 years on Nov. 8. No one was injured.
Although the house structure stands, Renner estimates it won’t be ready to move back in for eight or nine months. Irreplaceable artwork, family heirlooms and keepsakes were destroyed in the fire, he said. Thankfully, he still has a lot of his busker gear because he already had it in an offsite storage unit.
Renner said he and his dog, Eli, are doing OK, but the grief comes in waves.
“Emotionally, I’m a little more stable now than I was the week after,” Renner said. “The processes are started, you know, recovery and restoration, and so that helps. But there’s times when, you know, I’m left alone, I think, ‘Oh, I gotta do something.’ And then I realize, ‘Oh, I don’t have that thing anymore.’”
The longtime comic, stilt walker and clown performer is still working on his new project slated for February: the Lawrence Comedy Festival. He’s assured “that thing’s gonna happen no matter what happens in my life.”
“I wanted to have it right at that moment of winter when we’re all pretty damn sick of winter,” Renner said. “I want it to be a celebration of just humor in general and its ability to lift your spirits up.”
The inaugural festival will bring in professional comedians for a series of shows in downtown Lawrence. Renner said three local comedians will be featured, and although he’s received some pushback for not centering more local talent, he believes it will offer a taste of comedy from folks working in the industry nationally.
Learn more about the Lawrence Comedy Festival on its website, lawrencecomedyfest.com.
Fundraiser for fire recovery
The Bottleneck, I Heart Local Music, Lawrence Busker Festival and Explore Lawrence are hosting a fundraiser for Renner.
Local bands and buskers will perform, and there will be a raffle with prizes. Renner himself isn’t performing; he said he’s looking forward to enjoying a much-needed evening with his community.
“I will be there, and I will be sharing beers with my friends,” Renner said.
The “Rally for Renner: Buskers and Bands Bash” is scheduled for 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 22 at the Bottleneck, 737 New Hampshire St. in downtown Lawrence. There’s no cover charge, but donations are welcome and will be accepted at the door.
Renner said he also encourages folks to donate to the Red Cross. He remembers borrowing clothes from a neighbor to be able to go out and purchase some placeholders because he had lost everything in the fire. The Red Cross arrived later in the morning and provided Renner with clothing, toiletries, money for food and medicine, and other necessities.
Donations can be made to the Red Cross online at redcross.org.
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Maya Hodison (she/her), equity reporter, can be reached at mhodison@lawrencekstimes.com. Read more of her work for the Times here. Check out her staff bio here.
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