My Blog

Artista And Fashionista Seeks Photographers

Megan — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 18:32:08 GMT

This year I decided it is due time I embrace what I truly love. Costume. I have always loved to dress up. Even as a youngin. Over the years I have obtained a huge obscure collection of costume pieces. When I started hooping my collection got bigger. In 2009 I want to take on what might just be my biggest project yet. I would like to do an exhibit using photography and location to capture 20 costumes I am creating within the year. Each costume will have a specific location where it is shot that directly relates to the theme of the costume. I am seeking local photographers who are interested in documenting some of these costumes. If the show goes as planned there could be up to 20 local photographers involved, I can provide killer costumes, make up and location. I cannot afford to pay for the photography but can promise that this show will have great exposure for those who participate. The Shooting would not happen until the spring and summer of 09. Mostly shoots would be outdoors. If you are interested please contact me or respond to this post. I am anticipating this project to be a fun filled sassy adventure in self-expression and look forward to creating and collaborating with some of the very talented photographers who live in the valley.

Oh MY Goodness am I ecxited!!!

Megan — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 22:46:47 GMT

My show at faces opens in 6 days!!!! 4 years I have worked for this and it is finaly almost here! I feel like a kid at X-mas! These Burning girls have been waiting a long time to strut thier sassy stuff and now atlast they get thier day-(or 31 days) to shine, shine shine. I can not begin to express what this experience of co creating this window had done for me. I have learned so many things from working with the two desighners of Faces. I feel a surrge right now and a artistic shift is a comming. Faces has inspired me to THINK BIG, outside the box and to go for what I want and have always wanted! I am starting to think a lot more about making instaltions and massive sculptures that I can bring to Burning Man. I am thinking about theater and music and circus and costume. I am honing in, I am figuring out who I am as an artist and I must say it feel prety damn Good! Viva La Burning Girls! Viva Las Sass!

Megan E. LaBonte Brings Miniature Magic To Faces Holiday Window

Megan — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 21:02:39 GMT

Please stop at Faces on Main Street in Northampton and join local artist Megan E. LaBonte in welcoming the holiday season to the Pioneer Valley on December 5th, 2008 for the unveiling of a fantastic, magical miniature installation. Megan's work will be on display in a festive parade that will truley capture the imagination and hearts of many. Exuberantly inspired by the bizarre fashion and artistic-cultural phenomenon of Burning Man, Megan has created a series of work entitled "Burning Girls" consisting of over 70 handcrafted dolls and art objects. This instalation is a litteral mini wondreland packed full of fun fashion and celabration. Megan is a long-time resident of and well-known character in Northampton, known for her hula hooping and performance art as well as her collage and mixed media installations. She has been showing her distinctive art creations in store windows for over a decade. The opening night of this display is on Dec 5th. There will be a viewing of the window between 7:00-7:30. Questions for the artist? Megan will be there to converse about her work. A specially designed ramp will afford children an up close view. Hot chocolate and chai will be served on the street. Children and parents alike will relish in the visual imagery of this a prolific group of miniature fashionistas and handcrafted dessert divas. Come the Holiday season in Northampton residents and visitors alike excitedly anticipate the holiday displays. Viewing the December Faces window has become a Northampton tradition of its own. You will not want to miss this Sassy, seasonal celebration!

Some thoughts on being an artist

Megan — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 21:58:54 GMT

Been thinking a lot in my thirtyith year about what it means to be an artist. Being an artist is not an easy path. Being an artist comes with a lot including presure and expectation but also it comes with passion and skill. I don't think I could live life any other way than the way that I am living. I love being an artist, I love having the power of creation at my fingertips. I live to create the next project. As I am growing older I am realizing that art is a very broad term. I am ejoying so much being able to cultivate the musical side of myself I have so often neglected. I am 3 weeks away from my opening day at Faces. I have been building thier christmas window in the basement for over a month now. This is by far the biggest window I have ever taken on. The scale that I am used to working in (minatures) is about 3-7 inches. The Faces window is 23ftx 6ft. This is quite a jump for me. It has inspired me to do bigger instalations and starting to think about building very large sculptures. I will start creating my first big Burning Man sculpture on my dads land in the spring. My whole self in changing , the way I see the world, they way I create and what I create is changing to. I feel artisticly alive again. So much so that it is all I can think about these days. Although sometimes it is hard to walk this path, I woulden't want it any other way!

Finding My Voice.

Megan — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 12:52:19 GMT

This Halloween for the first time in three years I left my hoop at home. Every Halloween I fill myself with great expectations of the night. Since I have learned how to hoop I have been performing on this magical night. As much as I love to hoop there is a whole secret world of expectation and pressure that goes with it. This year I wanted to be free of that and just enjoy the holiday like any other party goer. I ventured out with a small group of friends to the castle party in Montique. Brian Mque throws this party every year on his incredible property. I have heard of its legend for sometime but never made it there. Upon arrival I was thrilled and inspired to see so many people in the true spirit of this holiday. I quickly found myself under the stars around the fire. We started drumming and many joined us and brought there spirit to the fire. At one point in the night I got up and began to dance, in my tutu and leopard print to say the least I was feeling it. Surrounded by the music I began to sing. Channeling the night my voice was strong and I sang a song about what it is to be sassy. I have started singing just in the past three months, something have always loved t do but never felt like I could because of insecurities. It was a blissful feeling to find my voice and to have so many be receptive to the words which were coming from some higher place. I realized that night how I have always hid. Hid being my hoop, hid behind elaborate costumes, hid behind a shield of sass. I loved using my voice, singing songs and being musical. A side of me most people have never even seen. It was truly n uplifting experience. I think I might leave that hoop at home more often. I do not want to hide anymore.

Burning Girls: Comming Soon To A Window Near You!

Megan — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 19:08:05 GMT

Yes it's true, the Burning Girls, an instilation 4 years in the making is going to be installed at Faces Dec 1rst. I am simply thrilled to see this project finaly comming to fruition. I just want to share what a wonderful learning experience it has been to work with the Faces window desighners on this. I did my first store window when I was 20, but in my 10 years of window experience there was something misssing. That something I believe is a know how that you obtain from many many years of hard work and experience. Faces is known for thier windows, they put so much time and thought into them it is truley inspiring! I love working with them, it feels more like a mentorship then like a commisined window. We are becoming a team on this and begging to share the vision of the Burning Gorls. It is crazy to realize other artists can enter and effect the dream scapes of your creative mind!

Observations On The Human Heart.

Megan — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 02:50:38 GMT

Im my observations of my own heart I believe that hearts are close in nature to sea urchants. We swim in dangerous waters, sometimes we even seek out the darkest waters to inhabit. We open our hearts recognizing the bueaty and magic of life and love and then we get scared quickly retracting back into a state of isolation. It is a bizare ritual, one most of us know all to well. I am trying hard these days to move further out into the ocean with out getting eaten by the world and its synism. I am trying hard t stay open to the magic and not be afraid of what is out there. For living under a rock however safe it may be is not really living at all....

Feeding the fire.

Megan — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 02:18:52 GMT

I fed it to the fire Who fed it to kali Together they devoured. Into the the autum air I watched it rise then disapear Offerings we brought her And watched her as she grew. Her power is everywhere We sang to her, we danced for her. She will not hurt you if you embrace her She has come to help us grow. And when in the morning I rose I felt an air of lightness Like something had been lifted And my pain had somehow shifted... Kali, Kali.

My Secret Life.

Megan — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 23:38:29 GMT

In my secret life I drum on ancient floor boards Surrounded by friends guitars and the stars In my secret life I am a princess My royality is celabrated and respected In my secret life we sing and drum under the moon All in awe of her lumanous beauty In my secret life I am a force of nature Whirling and twirling Dancing with fire. In my secret life I am an old wise woman In my secret life I am a young naive girl In my secret life we are finding our tribe No spirits have come here accidentally In my secret life I am a an ocean Vast and wide. My beauty and wisdom reflected back to me In the eyes of others In my secret life I am a warrior of love I wear no gloves when battling skepticism In my secret life there is a tribe of sprits Watching over us. Protecting us Showing us how to love and create together as tribe.

I Love The Hoop Of Fire!

Megan — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 20:47:57 GMT

Update on my fire hooping adventures. Just have to say I have fallen inlove with a fire hoopng! I got my hoop last christmas and did not get to test it until June. I spent many months practicing unlit which I am greatful for. I have recently been practicing lit for the last three weeks as much as possible. My life right now consists of working on Faces Dec window and fire hooping. I have found a group of wonderful people who love to play music as much as I like to hoop. I really love dancing with fire, I had no idea how awesomley addictive it can be! When I am hooping with fire I just feel very alive and confident, I am getting better and better too. I can do it on my neck, knees and elbows now but I am not stopping there. I want to work on a whole new genra of the hoop; Flameinco Hoop Dance. A mixture of latin dance and fire. I am working with some very talented local musicians to make this a part of my act. The Sassidor is comming to life right in front of my eyes!

Once Upon A Time....

Megan — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 15:43:56 GMT

There was a girl who tried to please everyone. One day she woke up and realized the olny person she needed to please was herself. Since that day her life has bloomed in ways she never dreamed possible.

Ah, Sweet Life!

Megan — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 20:18:46 GMT

Must say that life is just bursting at the seams with magic latley. I feel like I just woke up from a very long sleep and am seeing the world with new eyes. It is amazing that when you open your heart the world starts flooding in on you! There is so much magic everywhere! The fair was this weekend and me and myroomate Eric litterly got to watch it be set up watched hundreds of people roll into our street, share the vegtables from our garden, watch there children run gleefully int the choas and then they took two days to break it down and now it is gone. It reminded me of Burning Man. Since Burning Megan I have been thinking so much about street perfrmance, circus, canrival. I think it is time to embrace the choas just like a child. Put my truest desires out into the world and watch the tide rise again. I am going to just accept that I do not need to be accepted and live like like the sassy warrior pricess I was born t be. I am Kali I am Frida I am oxun I am the ocean I am the Desert, I am all of these things.

BURNING MEGAN:

Megan — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 13:53:44 GMT

I would like to thank you all, each and everyone of you that made the long voyage to Goshen, endured through the rain to celebrate the spirit of Burning Man. What a time we had! I think that the most powerful part of the night for me was the Burning Of The Megan. I was filled with nervous anticipation all night that something would go wrong with that. Not olny did it not g wrong, it went as well as it could have. It was very emotional for all of us surronded by friends and loved ones. fellow Vegan bus riders, The energy was amazing. The strangest (or not) part of all of this: I had written many words on the effigy the day before, words to my sister, words about my old life and the new life that is forming. After all that wood had burned the only words that remained were "Trust In Megan" Now ain't that sme shit!!!!!!!!!!!!

Party People: Does Anyone Have Pics Or Footage From Burning Megan

Megan — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 19:58:12 GMT

Hey Ya'll Just currious if anyone got photos or footage from Burning Megan. If so PLEASE let me know! Would love to see them! Megan

30.

Megan — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 17:27:36 GMT

Sometimes it takes loosing yourself to find yourself again. What a year I have had. Growth hurts, change is hard, love is real. These are all things my 30th year has tuaght me. Although I truley struggle sometimes I can say I feel I have and will continue to live an honest life. When I feel pain I cry, when I feel joy I smile I do not hide from my emotions becuase I know that they will always find me in the end. I am commited to representing the sass I was given in what ever forms it takes, I am comminted to making my own life full of passion and art. I am commited to feeling what I feel as I am feeling it. I am tired of pretending to be an icon. I am a person full of contradictions. I am learning who I am and that is pretty damn exciting!!!!!!!

I'm In A Music Video!

Megan — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 17:37:25 GMT

Hey yo! So I met these guys a few years ago in Boston at a show. DJ slim is fuckin great, funny kind and truley devoted to his cuase. It is pretty funny but here it is. This video was shot at my dads house in Goshen. Enjoy! Megan <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/UD8q-irsEzk&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/UD8q-irsEzk&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

Life Is Like A Hula Hoop

Megan — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 19:22:41 GMT

It just keeps goin round and round. Circles, circles cycles, infinity.

Burning Girls Have Found A Home Atlast! Faces Window: December 2008!

Megan — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 19:58:55 GMT

Hey Ya'll, I am pleased to announce after 4 years I have found a space BIG enough to accommodate my Burning Girls Collection. For those of you who don't know about the Burning Girls they are part of a massive miniature instillation I began creating in 2004 after my first trip to Burning Man. They pay homage to the glorious divas of the playa. I have been wanting to show this work since I created it 4 years ago but have struggled to find the right space for it. The search is over! I will be working with Faces of Northampton to create their annual Holiday display in the month of December. I am creating a series of dioramas, which will include lighting and movement. I am excited to now create the world in which these pieces will live. It is a blend of artistic instillation and set design. I feel honored to have this opportunity to work with such a skilled team of designers. I have admired the Faces windows since I was a child and now I am going to be installing one of them! Please come check it out in Dec and I also have 14 pieces going into the August window. I am open to ideas and suggestions about the Dec display. Also interested to hear what Burning man means to you. Instillations and pieces that had a long-term effect on you? What makes Burning man Burning Man? Hope everyone is well! Sincerely, Ms. Megan E. LaBonte

Fire Hoop Video.

Megan — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 15:24:53 GMT

Here is a video from my party the other night in Goshen, Thank you Tom for taping this. It was a very special and much anticpated event for me to alast light this hoop. It had been a long time coming. Thank you also to Brian James Choas and Amanda who helped me light it. That was an amazing night! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MU9lrzGZO0E

Ride Share To Goshen Party This Friday?

Megan — Mon, 26 May 2008 19:22:55 GMT

Hey Ya'll Just currious if anyone is comming to my party from that might have room for two fabulous people and a few hoops too. Please let me know Megan

Sometimes you try your hardest

Megan — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 19:22:15 GMT

And it's still not enough.

Sass Master

Megan — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 01:48:59 GMT

I am the Sass Master. Sass Master Supreame! You can Shake me and Roll me but you can't break my being I am a child born of the night In the foot hills of Goshen On the cusp of day light I am a women, pocesser of Sass Artist and dancer I live in Choas I can scream like Kali I can cry like a child I can hoop Like godess I can walk many miles You may think that I'm crazy you may think Im insane But a spirit like mine can simply not be tamed Becuase I'm the Sass Master Sass Master Supreame I know what I got If ya know what I mean.

First Party Of The Season: Friday May 30th

Megan — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 18:29:24 GMT

It is my pleasure to annonce the first party of the season. It will be in Goshen at my dads house. Beggining around 6-??? Bring your drums, bells and sasys selves.This will be our 5th annual May celebration. It is also going to be potluck so please bring a dish. Vegatarion/Vegan food would be great too but bring whatever you would like. All kind and creative souls are welcome! See ya in Goshen!

I Am Trying

Megan — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 14:04:05 GMT

This life is a crazy one I tell ya. Up and nd down ike a roller coaster, just trying to stay calm as I am able. Growing is a painful process, trying to change patterns that have been with me for many years. They say you never know a person until youv'e walked a mile in thier shoes. There are people in my life I struggle to understand as they too struggle to understand me. It is a diffucult dance that seems to have no end. Just a series of cutious steps like a tango in a mine field. I am growing and changing all the time. Sometimes it feels like my soul tearing apart. Like I have outgrown my mind. I am finding it hard, I feel alone, without sisters to support me. I feel like my sucsess could be my demise. I am scared of this new world but I know I must continue to dance.

Why Now?

Megan — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 13:04:24 GMT

So my shoulder is a mess. It turns out what I have is called an av seperation. That is when the bone and ligament seperate. I have a huge bump protruding from my shoulder. I am going to be a sling for the next month which means no hooping and some difficult days at work. I am very sad, I have been waiting all winter to hoop and finaly the weather is nice and the shows are rolling in and I can't perform. Go figure............