RIP Sean McKinney

[Evan Young]

I just found out that Sean died over the weekend.
His contribution to the juggling world is unmistakable, and he was a good friend as well. It breaks my heart to see him go.

[Jim]

He deifinitely contributed a lot to the juggling world. And he was a really nice person. I didn't know him well, but all my interactions with him were pleasant. I'm sad to hear this news.

Jim

[Butterfly Man]

Caught Clean

Young prince of pain with gifted hands
Your battle now has ended
You reached out to us and gave us more
Than perhaps you had intended

You were an awesome messenger
Of silent words unspoken
A graceful hero, a polished champion
Of patterns left unbroken

You tossed around your solid tears
For all the world to see
And in the end you caught them clean
I trust you will agree

The gift you gave that stays with us
And why you’re still a star
Is that all of what you were
Is now part of who we are …

to Sean,
from The Butterfly Man

[Lightfoot]

Sean was one of my true close friends. It was heart breaking to see him in such pain these last few years. We had travelled all over the east coast putting together footage for a juggling video project he was passionate about. During are times together we had many talks about death and whether life was worth living. We both struggled for a reason for living in our own way. As his illness progressed his passion for living went into a nose dive and he had a hard time adjusting to another lifestyle. He was a genuine creative bright star who burned out much to quickly.

[Marc]

I just joined recently and noticed this topic. I thought I should post some of my thoughts because My family and I have such fond memories of the short time that we knew him.

The last time we saw Sean was in Boulder just before he left for California. We were very sad that he wasn't able to juggle. He looked so crushed. It broke our hearts. He was so different from the times we had seen him before.

He was amazing. I can't remember specifically what I saw him do, but I remember thinking, "I have never seen juggling like that!" I would love to see some videos of him.

He was truly a nice guy to be around even if he was yelling at a heckler. He is sorely missed.

[Lightfoot]

sean mckinney movement

Your can find DVD'S of some of sean's work at a site run by Peggy

http://www.seanmckinney.net/

[Marc]

Thanks. I just heard today that those were out there somewhere. I appreciate the link. I look forward to owning copies.

[jeep caillouet]

can't seem to remember

I worked around Boulder as well as the east coast a lot but I can't seem to remember him. Some one refresh me. Anyway I wish him RIP.

[Butterfly Man]

who was that man?

jeep,
Sean took his own life with Gatorade and barbiturates … he died at age 29.

As to who he was … well, like all of us, he was different things to different people. However, unlike most of us, he was a hero to young jugglers. I would watch them gather around him at IJA conventions, watch his amazing moves (so unlike regular jugglers) and go away wishing they were that cool.

Yes, Sean was cool … way cool. Not just because he could shred with his “jazz” juggling but because he never compromised himself.

A good example of his character came through when he was still quite young. I was one of several judges who determined who could enter the IJA championships (I think it was LA in 1990). Barry Bakalor was the head judge. Sean came in and did what he always did, the way he always did it … simply amazing finesse. Every judge voted him in except Barry. He pointed out that Sean was wearing only his usual black t-shirt and jeans and since he had no costume he shouldn’t be allowed to compete.

I was aghast …I asked Barry to reconsider but he held firm. I quickly ran after Sean to attempt to cajole him into putting together some sort of costume. Sean didn’t say anything but he said he’d compete.

The next day, just before the competition, Sean arrived in his usual black t-shirt and jeans. But this time, I was relieved to see, he had a garment bag slung over his shoulder. Barry saw him at the same time I did … Barry just glared at him for a second and then walked away.

I didn’t … I watched as Sean opened his garment bag revealing a neatly pressed black t-shirt and jeans.

Cool … way cool, I thought.

[Juggling@large]

i hope this is o.k. to add my rememberances so long after he died.
just on a whim i thought to check the curtain call section and saw this.
I saw sean in montreal (pre2000 montreal) not sure what year.
i was doing side door guard of the back stage. i saw sean and something told me, just by energy maybe, that he would win.
I saw him heading back stage and told him something like " i think youve got it " or just that i knew he was going to take gold.
it was just a passing thought but it felt right. then he took gold.
i can see him kicking ass in the ripped jeans. i just saw his flaming joy in performing.
im stunned. maybe 3am is a bad time to write this but...

thank you for the gifts sean
thank you for the gifts of direction by joys fire
above fitting in, thank you for dancing as you saw right
thank you for passing on and pumping up those wings of flight.
i see you in my reflecting
directing the blurs of clubs
so much"in the moment" you instructed by existence.
i hope to pass that on.
to all who knew him more than i, my compassion.

thank you. merci.



p.s. hearing this news makes me want to start a therapy fund
for performers with depression challenges.
if i had money.
Also, thank you butterfly man for your words and poetry.
good to hear more than i knew about him.

[Butterfly Man]

Now ... THAT"S what I'm talkin' about ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2smpLHV91EE&feature=related

[jeep caillouet]

speed balling

Thanks butterfly man for the link to utube about Sean's juggling. I can see that he was one of th great jugglers. Sorry that I missed him. I think I'll stay away from that gaterade combo. I don't think I'd like that end results.But I do understand the speed balling effect though. When I was younger and playing clubs like Gillies in Texas,Palomina club in L A, LoneStar cafe in New York etc, I was doing stuff like cocaine and Quaaludes for my fix. I'm not sure weather I was coming or going , but I could play my ass off ,or at least I thought I could! We have a young juggler here in Key West that I have real liking for. He is very talented and is going to to make his self one of those really great jugglers. I will pass Sean's utube juggling along to him. I'm sure he can learn some great moves from him. Thanks. Again RIP

[Rootberry]

Sean juggled at the edge of human ability, his raw power combined with uncatchable catches inspired so many juggler, his spirt lives on in all of us who were transformed by his genius.

Root of TRB