~BOATEL LAUNCH PARTY – MARINA 59 – the PIX !! – MORE PIX JUST WENT LIVE: THURS MAY 31 – 10:24 PM

FOR MORE BOATEL PIX – PART II: SCROLL DOWN


BOATEL LAUNCH PARTY – MARINA 59, FAR ROCKAWAY, NYC – SAT MAY 19, 2012


PORTS BISHOP, SERRA BOTHWELLFELS, KELIE BOWMAN . . .


SERRA BOTHWELLFELS’ boat – CHARLIE’S ANGELS.

something like 23 artists were given free rein to decorate 16 boats. the boats are really just the old hulls or shells of old boats – no engines, no plumbing. no stove or fridge – but . . . lots of romance. cheap, and with upgrade amenities, like bathrooms & showers, & some eats at the main dock. it’s definite bring your own food, beer and (swim) (sleep) (cooler with ice) gear !! you know. have fun, trip out on the water, and the sunsets – all the while staying, in one place. it’s the real deal. going far, by going . . . nowhere.


at left, MAMIE inside SERRA’S boat. the boats rent for an average $75 a night, and they seem to be booking, FAST !! you can’t take the boats tripping off into the waters, they have no engines !! but you can jump in the lake. (somewhat, it’s not exactly a designated swimming area.)
see: BOATEL – for more details


the hand-sewn quilt on Serra’s boat’s bed – matches the hand-painted Navajo-Indian, I’m guessing, inspired patterns on the wood details.
p.s. the distressed wood, on the walls and flooring, is also her doing, as is the tin ceiling, which you will have to go see for yourself.


Serra’s hand-sewn, pieced & knotted quilt – is based on an old Amish pinwheel pattern.


I liked how she left traces of her workroom . . .


as part of the finished interior.


KELIE BOWMAN’S boat – the SEA WOLF . . . was less artisanal retro cabin-in-the-woods rocking in the waters, and more like a rocking-you-to-sleep lullaby. a painted dream of a ship in a child’s poem, of running off to sea !!


STO, and KELIE BOWMAN – on Kelie’s SEA WOLF.



Kelie’s boat was a gentle rock and roller, very luminous in a soft way. like sun glancing off waves. hand painted through and through in a gentle giant’s pale blue spectrum, though also built up upon triangle elements come to think of it – !!


there was a hand painted braided sailor’s rope going along the wall, in Kelie’s signature delicate brushwork style – – along with with an endangered fish chart, ca 2000 !!


the Sea Wolf’s bed . . . the little hatch window in the back – opens onto the sea.


KELIE BOWMAN’S drawing on the little forward hatch – on the Sea Wolf !! thinking .. ‘land’ dreams on the ‘boat’ ride ?

UP-DATE: THURS MAY 31, 2012 – MORE !! – BOATEL LAUNCH PARTY – PIX !! – PART II


one of the two BOATEL SUMMER 2012 project curators: ORIEN McNEILL.


ANGIE KANG, the other BOATEL SUMMER 2012 curator.


midway on the BOATEL pier – a very outdoors communal lounge . . .


it was actually designed and put together by the BOATEL project co-curator, ORIEN McNEILL.


MAYRA CIMET & JASON SINOPOLI aboard their boat, the WHITE LOBSTER.


at the left, MAYRA CIMET. inside the White Lobster it was like a really hot summer night, your very own private clubland . . . . it was: disco ball – on waves !!


outside you could step out, and see planes overhead, but – the magic of being on the water, conquered all.


real fishermen, setting out.


someone even had a kayak – docked near by.


QUEEN ZENOBIA looked be fun, great graphics, walk like an Egyptian.


at the end of the dock, you could see the sunset just coming on – nothing beats a sunset on the water.


swimmers . . . and fur coats, BOATEL in a nutshell.


yep, it was !! hot enough to swim.


the pink flamingo (!!) on the CRUMB – LAURA McMILLAN’s boat, she of the fur jacket, just above, with the swimmers.


the NANCY BOGGS – was fun.


yep, those appear to be vintage stockings hanging – as curtains in the window.


inside the NANCY BOGGS, the day trippers, I mean renters, had arrived. get the party started. (!!)


the view of the marina – from inside the NANCY BOGGS.


inside the NANCY BOGGS, it was one of the bigger boats.


yep, those were faux ‘animal’ trophy heads !!


the bed looked very inviting. very comfy. that NANCY BOGGS crew were really into their – curtains !!


the NEW YORK, N.Y. by contrast seemed very modern, contemporary – it had a . . .


hand-stitched geodesic dome to keep you safe from the sun, on the rear deck. it was a real nice color too.


SIMON and GRISHA – inside their boat: NEW YORK, N.Y.


SETH KIRBY, one of the small group that had just arrived – to take over NEW YORK, N.Y. for the weekend.
Seth produces light shows for JOSHUA LIGHT SHOW, and . . .


he showed me some of his light show designs on his iPhone. that’s so NEW YORK, N.Y. !!


SETH KIRBY light show design. I liked this one in particular, because it echoed the geodesic dome on the boat, NEW YORK, N.Y. – which he and his pals had rented for the night.


the geodesic dome on NEW YORK, N.Y. one of the more contemporary-leaning boat designs. though actually aren’t geodesic domes . . a throwback back, too ? I mean, what’s that called: 60’s vintage modernism ?


the lantern on the stern of the NEW YORK, N.Y. the sun had really set, by now. sea board romance was on full glow.


good nite, BOATEL on FAR ROCKAWAY, a world away in many ways. and in Queens, the oft forgotten borough, art wise (!!) – no less.


CHASSY – the night watchman, and yes, he had designed a boat in the show. which one ?
the CHEMICAL REACTION !!


who could forget the CHEMICAL REACTION ? Chassy’s boat – it had an upside down, seatless wooden chair on the hood of the former cabin cruiser’s cockpit. now that’s a great metaphor – figure it out, for yourself.
BOATEL 2012 ? very nice. super special, way to go summer – on the water – you rule !!

PHOTOS: NANCY SMITH. BOATEL, MARINA 59, FAR ROCKAWAY, NYC, NY. MAY 19, 2012