Hellooooo! I'm so excited to present to you the first episode of the new season of The Michelle Bonfils Show!
Our first guest is one of my favorite artists, David Hochbaum. A while back, David invited us into his studio to show us some works in progress and discuss his truly amazing art. (If you're in Rome in November, you can see it up close!)
He ROCKS and I'm so happy to introduce you to him. (again)
Enjoy!
Friday, October 30, 2009
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
The Girl Least Likely To
I read her diary, like I'm sure we all did in grammar school, but seeing her moving image in the short video below made Anne Frank more real than I'd ever thought her to be.
Whenever I think of Anne Frank, I think of my grandmother who grew up in Denmark during the war. She lived above the delicatessen her father owned, and she's told me countless stories of curfews and rationing during Nazi Germany's invasion of Denmark. She also would tell the story of how she would wake up in the middle of the night and see strange people in her home. My grandmother, at the time, was about to be a teenager, and these strange people were Jews. In 1943, the people of Denmark took part in The Rescue of the Danish Jews, a collective effort to safely get Jews out of the country to Sweden. My great grandfather was one of those brave men who helped.
I wonder what Anne Frank would be like if she had lived in Denmark and had made it to safety. If she had passed through my grandmother's home, would she have woken my grandmother up with her footsteps and introduced herself only to find they shared the same name and similar features? Would they have played quietly in the dark while the adults plotted an escape to the sea? Would she have grown up to become the writer she wanted to be (but was already), the person who believed in people and the good in their hearts and taught others by example to do the same? I like to think so....
Whenever I think of Anne Frank, I think of my grandmother who grew up in Denmark during the war. She lived above the delicatessen her father owned, and she's told me countless stories of curfews and rationing during Nazi Germany's invasion of Denmark. She also would tell the story of how she would wake up in the middle of the night and see strange people in her home. My grandmother, at the time, was about to be a teenager, and these strange people were Jews. In 1943, the people of Denmark took part in The Rescue of the Danish Jews, a collective effort to safely get Jews out of the country to Sweden. My great grandfather was one of those brave men who helped.
I wonder what Anne Frank would be like if she had lived in Denmark and had made it to safety. If she had passed through my grandmother's home, would she have woken my grandmother up with her footsteps and introduced herself only to find they shared the same name and similar features? Would they have played quietly in the dark while the adults plotted an escape to the sea? Would she have grown up to become the writer she wanted to be (but was already), the person who believed in people and the good in their hearts and taught others by example to do the same? I like to think so....
"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment
before starting to improve the world."
- Anne Frank
before starting to improve the world."
- Anne Frank
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Bands We Love - Dead Man's Bones
Remember the photo we took a week ago in Los Angeles from the show we didn't get to see? Well, our friend Dave C. from our favorite LittleRadio made magic happen and got myself and GuerrillaStylist in to see the very sold out Dead Man's Bones show at Le Poisson Rouge in NYC. The venue was packed and so dark you could barely see in front of you. You know when you don't know where you are and it's dark and anxiety kicks in and you jump when you bump into something fearing it's going to be a skeleton or something creepy but it's just a pillar or another person standing in your way? That's how I felt as we made our way to the back of the venue to find a seat. The feeling was perfect for the show we were about to see.
After an hour long talent show (umm, there was a guy who put himself through a wire hanger), Ryan Gosling and Zach Shields come out on to the stage followed by their band and the St. Peter's Church Choir from Philadelphia. The choir was dressed in white hooded robes with black hearts on them and their faces painted a ghostly white with black eyes. The stage was lit blue and red and the backdrop was a graveyard and haunted house with dim lights for stars. The mood was set.
If you've heard the record, you should really try to check out one of their shows as they are two different experiences. One can easily accompany the Dead Man's Bones record with some Devics, or Black Heart Procession, maybe even Nick Cave. The show, though, is another experience completely. It's like performance art. My favorite part of the night was when a young choir member is "shot" and dies right there on stage. Gosling and Shields hold up a white sheet and a short film of her "afterlife" is projected on to it while they recite a poem to go with the film. The film ends, the sheet comes down, and the girl starts to sing a slow, almost talking, spooky version of Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down). If you didn't know that it was a Nancy Sinatra song, you would have thought the boys genius for writing a song so perfect to go with this bit.
Shields and Gosling are great together, as they trade singing duties and instruments, and so comfortable on stage and with the choir of kids. They made it seem like they were accompanying the choir rather than the other way around. I kept thinking how fun it must be to be one of those kids and get to sing out lyrics like "My body's a zombie for you" and "When I think about you, flowers grow out of my grave" (The latter, so romantic, is it not?)
The only thing about being at the show I didn't like was the audience. Seriously people, shut up and watch. I still don't understand why people pay to talk.
Favorite songs - Pa Pa Power (a good get up and dance tune), Dead Man's Bones, Paper Ships (Shields' voice on this is so beautiful and angelic), In the Room Where You Sleep (Gosling's vibrato makes you wanna move your body in sin) and of course Name in Stone.
I decided earlier in the night that this show was going to be one that i just got to and enjoy, no flip, no camera, no note taking. I failed, just a little, and pulled out my camera to take this shot.
That's all you get. Go buy the record or see a show.
After an hour long talent show (umm, there was a guy who put himself through a wire hanger), Ryan Gosling and Zach Shields come out on to the stage followed by their band and the St. Peter's Church Choir from Philadelphia. The choir was dressed in white hooded robes with black hearts on them and their faces painted a ghostly white with black eyes. The stage was lit blue and red and the backdrop was a graveyard and haunted house with dim lights for stars. The mood was set.
If you've heard the record, you should really try to check out one of their shows as they are two different experiences. One can easily accompany the Dead Man's Bones record with some Devics, or Black Heart Procession, maybe even Nick Cave. The show, though, is another experience completely. It's like performance art. My favorite part of the night was when a young choir member is "shot" and dies right there on stage. Gosling and Shields hold up a white sheet and a short film of her "afterlife" is projected on to it while they recite a poem to go with the film. The film ends, the sheet comes down, and the girl starts to sing a slow, almost talking, spooky version of Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down). If you didn't know that it was a Nancy Sinatra song, you would have thought the boys genius for writing a song so perfect to go with this bit.
Shields and Gosling are great together, as they trade singing duties and instruments, and so comfortable on stage and with the choir of kids. They made it seem like they were accompanying the choir rather than the other way around. I kept thinking how fun it must be to be one of those kids and get to sing out lyrics like "My body's a zombie for you" and "When I think about you, flowers grow out of my grave" (The latter, so romantic, is it not?)
The only thing about being at the show I didn't like was the audience. Seriously people, shut up and watch. I still don't understand why people pay to talk.
Favorite songs - Pa Pa Power (a good get up and dance tune), Dead Man's Bones, Paper Ships (Shields' voice on this is so beautiful and angelic), In the Room Where You Sleep (Gosling's vibrato makes you wanna move your body in sin) and of course Name in Stone.
I decided earlier in the night that this show was going to be one that i just got to and enjoy, no flip, no camera, no note taking. I failed, just a little, and pulled out my camera to take this shot.
That's all you get. Go buy the record or see a show.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Monday, October 12, 2009
LA to NY
i'm at LAX waiting to board my flight back to NYC. I've been in LA for the past four days and they've been wonderful, wonderful days. i was able to do some interviews and talk to a few people about the future of the show. (i know i know, new episodes will be up soon i promise!) It's been so great to discuss ideas with friends who believe in the show and what i want to do with it, and want to help! hooray for amazing people in my life. This all means that there will be changes changes changes to come. I know it's been slow around here, but i promise you this, you will not be disappointed when we start back up again!!
xoxo,
mb
xoxo,
mb
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Monday, October 5, 2009
Sunday, October 4, 2009
dry your hands in public
and not go deaf or kill trees! Yay. Veltia.
it's the little things that excite me.
it's the little things that excite me.
Friday, October 2, 2009
Thursday, October 1, 2009
October Photo Project
If you've ever read Jeffrey Yamahguchi's book 52 Projects book or blog, you absolutely have no reason to be bored or creatively blocked. Jeffrey gives you 52 ways to get your create on and his blog has plenty of helpful lists and how to's as well. I'm particularly fond of the how to write your novel at while you're on the clock list. Even though I'm not a novelist, I was able to use the techniques by substituting novel with other creative tasks like blogging, photo editting etc. Command - Tab is so my friend (apple-tab at home of course.)
So whilst I have many projects up in the air, I started to peruse Jeffrey's book for just one more fun and quick creative thing to take on. Something that I can incorporate into my blog as well. I chose #21. Take a photo a day for a full month. Put it up on flikr or facebook and show your friend, start a blog with the photos, make s scrapbook, or just keep them for yourself.
Here's my photo for Oct. 1st, 2009:
I was in midtown leaving a going away party. the city is so fast, thankfully this photo depicted it. One can never hold time still long enough......
So whilst I have many projects up in the air, I started to peruse Jeffrey's book for just one more fun and quick creative thing to take on. Something that I can incorporate into my blog as well. I chose #21. Take a photo a day for a full month. Put it up on flikr or facebook and show your friend, start a blog with the photos, make s scrapbook, or just keep them for yourself.
Here's my photo for Oct. 1st, 2009:
I was in midtown leaving a going away party. the city is so fast, thankfully this photo depicted it. One can never hold time still long enough......
Remember that summer when...
we scoured thrift stores for old plates and forks to make plant markers for our friend Lekkercraft's garden in North Carolina?
we went recycling bin fishing for glass bottles to make into vases?
we saw a friggin Beatle!!!!!
we went to a Yankee game at the new mall stadium and they won?
we had an awesome time at Figment!?
we got all patriotic?
we were a bridesmaid at Kelly and Bill's most amazing wedding in Pittsburgh?
Liz Clark met us in Paris for a fantastical weekend?
we ate snails in the shell, caught the bouquet, and stayed at a fancy chateau in Burgundy?
Thanks for being a good one, summer, filled with adventure and fun. Life is good. Until next year my friend!
What was your favorite thing you did you do this summer? Let us know in the comments section.
we went recycling bin fishing for glass bottles to make into vases?
we saw a friggin Beatle!!!!!
we went to a Yankee game at the new 
we had an awesome time at Figment!?
we got all patriotic?
we were a bridesmaid at Kelly and Bill's most amazing wedding in Pittsburgh?
Liz Clark met us in Paris for a fantastical weekend?
we ate snails in the shell, caught the bouquet, and stayed at a fancy chateau in Burgundy?
Thanks for being a good one, summer, filled with adventure and fun. Life is good. Until next year my friend!What was your favorite thing you did you do this summer? Let us know in the comments section.
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