Chris Bonk
Age: 52

Where I Live: I’m from Chicago. I currently live in a suburb NW of the city.

Been to Burning Man before? When?
Yes – 2012 was my first year.

Camped with? When?
PolyParadise - 2012

PolyParadise Favorite Moments: Cooking with everyone. The Human Carcass Wash was enlightening. Getting to meet all the great souls there.

Why Burning Man? I’ve always been interested in the Demimonde...and that’s what Burning Man is. A place where people won’t judge. The art and creativity is off the map! And even though it’s a the greatest party on the planet...it’s very spiritual as well!

Burning History: I read about Burning Man years ago and even knew two colleagues who went and then came back and were so wide-eyed about it. I thought it was just a tribal group of people getting wasted in the desert. Then I talked with a female acquaintance who had gone and she described it in such a way that made me want to research it more. Then I saw videos on YouTube and I was hooked!

Describe BM: HA! That’s a funny statement. It defies description.

My Life: I’m both a Fine Artist and Commercial artist. I’ve been a musician, scuba diver and race car driver. After 13 years at a high-powered advertising agency I was “restructured” last May and now I’m at a crossroads. Do I continue being a commercial artist, which I generally love, or do I explore something else for the later part of my working career?