When Kieran Binnie died by suicide in April, I had to take some time to think it over. I’ve had other friends and family leave the world this way, and there is a lot of anger, confusion, regret and loss to digest. At least there is for me.
Kieran and I met in 2014 when he was a student in an “Anarchist’s Tool Chest” class in England. While I try to keep a professional distance from students when I teach, I immediately bonded with Kieran over music – both playing it and listening to it – as well as the normal stuff (woodworking, tools and beer).
And it wasn’t just an international fling. Kieran and I kept in close touch since that class, meeting up in person a few times at woodworking events and classes – and always trading music recommendations back and forth. As well as staying in touch online.
At the time of his death, Kieran and I were working on a book together about the intertwined history of books and bookshelves and bookcases. I don’t know if I have the strength to complete that project on my own, but I do want something good to come out of his death.
Shortly after Kieran’s funeral, I talked with Rachel Moss, Kieran’s wife, about something we could do together that would help the craft, help build community (a very important thing to Kieran) and help people who might be struggling with mental illness.
I immediately thought of JoJo Wood and Sean, who run Pathcarvers in Birmingham – the same city where Kieran lived. Pathcarvers is a special organization that helps bring woodcraft to segments of the population that might not ever experience it, including people in drug and alcohol rehab, prisons, mental health services and those with low incomes. They do this in addition to offering courses to the public at large.
Rachel and I decided that Pathcarvers was a perfect fit for our efforts. And so I am pleased to announce The Kieran Binnie Memorial Fund for Craft. This fund goes directly to Pathcarvers to support their work. No administrative fees. No strings attached. This money will expand the courses that Pathcarvers offers and fund tuition for people who cannot afford it.
Pathcarvers has opened a GoFundMe page here. If you are interested in helping others through craft, I can promise that your money will be put to good use.
Please take a moment to read about Pathcarvers here. Plus some of the people who teach courses there (and have been themselves helped by the programs) here. And if you can donate – even a little – please do.
— Christopher Schwarz
I just ordered a Beer Stein and figure if I can afford it, then I can contribute to a worthy cause as well.
I can’t believe that it took a blog from the USA to make me aware of what JoJo is getting up to, not an hour’s drive from here! I wish you well with the memorial fund and with your joint project with Path Carvers.
Hi, I came across Kieran’s work, by virtue of his online blog (overthewireless.com) and his articles in F&C magazine, only quite recently. Not long after this I became aware of his untimely passing earlier this year. A sad loss of a gentle and gentlemanly fellow. I am continuing to read his blog (I am back in 2016 at the moment) even though I know it stops in 2021. I find his work and interests very readable, educational and compatible with my own. I’m glad to see that going forth his legacy will remain relevant as I know he had a keen sense of community among wood workers and Pathcarvers is an excellent match for this. Good luck with the fund, I shall certainly be making a contribution.
This is very important work. Thanks for sharing. I struggle from dysthymia a less acute but chronic lifelong form of depression. I don’t understand why some like myself have been able to continue living while someone like Kieran who was such a beautiful person couldn’t. There does not seem to be an order to it. David Foster Wallace and Michael K Williams are two others whose passing makes me sorrowful. I will give to Pathcarvers. I will read Kieran’s blog and honor him in that way. I am interested in starting a woodworking school where I am to help others find a way through. It has been kicking around in my mind for several years now, because when I carve spoons it is a sanctuary. Thanks again. I wish us all to find well being.
Chris, thank you for bringing attention to this very challenging disease that affects so many. Not only do the ones afflicted with mental illness suffer, but their friends and families also suffer along with their loved ones. Not enough positive education and programs are out there. By cutting away the stigma of mental illness, can you show more positive ways of dealing with it.
Thanks.
Thanks for doing this, Chris. JoJo and Sean are such kind, wonderful people—I love that their mission is getting this kind of help. (And I’d LOVE to read the book you and Kieran were working on someday….)
Thank you, Chris. We are glad to build Kieran’s legacy in this way.
Rachel x
“Community is the solution” – that’s how we can make the world a better place (even when it comes to making chairs to sit on).
Chris, if you don’t feel like having the strength to make a whole book, – why not make a short blog post, pointing towards some anarchistic bookcase/shelf design drawing as a digital download, with some (or all) of the money going towards the Memorial fund? I’d love to do a small bookshelf for favourite books, for example.