Lani Bouwer

Dead Horse Bay

2011-12-06T11:03:00.000-05:00

In the summer of 2009, we went exploring to the edges of Brooklyn. It took us a couple hours by bike and train, our destination was Dead Horse Bay which is also know as Bottle Beach. According to wikipedia, "during the seventeenth century, Dutch settlers built tide mills to grind wheat into flour. A remaining millstone can still be found along the Millstone trail. From the nineteenth century to the twentieth century the area has been used in a variety of ways, including manufacturing fertilizer from the remains of dead animals, producing fish oil from the menhaden caught in the bay, and more recently a landfill for the disposal of New York City’s garbage". We found soda and medicine bottles from the fifties, old shoe pieces from when there used to be a shoe factory, old boats, and a man who told us tales of the bay, as he had lived on the beach for years.

Snow Storm Silence

2011-12-05T21:20:00.000-05:00

It's been a while. I have not posted in 2 years, but have not stopped shooting. I have been going through old photos, editing, etc. So here's to a new start, and with that I leave you with these images I took in a blizzard in the South back in December of 2009.

West Coast to the Wild West

2009-10-02T15:06:00.001-04:00

2009-10-02T15:03:00.000-04:00

2009-10-02T14:52:00.002-04:00

These photos are from the last leg of my trip this summer. After an amazing estuary/sea kayaking adventure, harbor seals and egrets included, April and I road tripped it up to Crater Lake in Oregon. The most incredible lake, so blue, so cold, so clear. Camping under the most incredible blanket of stars. Life is tough.... Then I flew from Portland out to Colorado. I drove down to the desert with my pops and visited my aunt and uncle at their beautiful place. We explored ruins, canyons, and grilled and enjoyed the sunsets. To those of you that never leave the East Coast, well, this is what you are missing. I'm just saying.

Sausalito Night

2009-09-09T11:48:00.004-04:00

Had the most amazing night on top of a friend's houseboat in Sausalito watching the meteor shower. We saw at least 40 shooting stars, and the milky way was in clear view. Oh the things you see when you leave the New York City sky (lucky to see 3 stars?).....

Beach Birthday

2009-09-09T11:34:00.002-04:00

We went to this beach outside of San Fran in the Marin Headlands for April's birthday. It was a steep mile hike down, and the beach had this dark sand and it was perfect for drinking wine and sunbathing.

Badlands to Little Beirut

2009-09-08T19:37:00.001-04:00

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2009-09-08T19:17:00.002-04:00

These are photos from our drive from Milwaukee to Portland. I meant to do these before the last entry, so it would be in chronological order, but I am sure you will forgive me for being scatterbrained as usual. We saw some amazing country. Especially the Badlands and the mountains of Wyoming. Hey, we even went to the corn palace....major letdown, I was expecting something hokey, but it was just lame (photo second from the bottom) it was a brick building with corn stuck on! Anyways...Portland was a really awesome city, which I plan on revisiting. Very down with the local/organic food movement (dionystically at delicious cart food), the people were chill, and there was good art. The people we stayed with had the most amazing chickens (above) and lovely home. Rachel had an incredible solo art show at Breeze Block Gallery. Then we headed down to the Bay Area, more pics on that to come.....

San Francisco to Monterey

2009-09-04T09:48:00.001-04:00

2009-09-04T09:44:00.001-04:00

2009-09-04T09:28:00.005-04:00

While visiting my friend April in the bay area, we drove down to Monterey and shot along the coast. The fog set the mood for the day and created the most mysterious, luminous night.

Milwaukee Midwest Magic

2009-09-04T01:58:00.005-04:00

I headed out to Milwaukee for some good times Midwest style. Traveling with my friends Rachel and Jesse, we ate delicious food from the garden, thrift stored it up, and ran wild in parks. Then we headed across the country westbound....

OBX

2009-09-04T01:52:00.004-04:00

Earlier this summer, post Texas, I headed out to the Outer Banks of North Carolina. It was beautiful and I learned to hang glide. Can't complain about delicious seafood either.

Lone Star State

2009-09-03T21:20:00.002-04:00

Lone Star State II

2009-09-03T10:08:00.005-04:00

Earlier this summer I took a trip down to Texas. I had never been there and I actually loved it. I was surprised at how much of a cool place it was. I was mostly in Houston with my friends Galina and Hank, who showed me a great time. Cheap, good TexMex and cheap beers, and chill bars. I also got to ride around on scooters or in a jeep with the top down, so I had the wind in my hair and a smile on my face. Galina's awesome new studio (1st pic) will be part of FotoFest 2010 if you are down there. We ate a lot of amazing BBQ, as Hank informed me, because he is a native Texan, BBQ is his religion. Hank and I visited a bat colony which is right in Houston, and it was incredible. Hundreds of thousands of bats fly out at dusk. We stood under the bridge they nest in and they flew all around us, never touching us. I also visited a friend in Austin, who is holding Puddle the Duck and one of Puddle's owners is the photo seen above.

Up on the Roof

2009-07-19T18:19:00.004-04:00

Ok, so I couldn't resist some rooftop shots. There is just something about a Brooklyn night.
PJ Harvey says it better than I can:

On a rooftop in Brooklyn
At one in the morning
Watching the lights flash
In Manhattan
I see five bridges
The Empire State Building
And you said something
That I've never forgotten

We lean against railings
Describing the colours
And the smells of our homelands
Acting like lovers
How did we get here?
To this point of living?
I held my breath
And you said something

The 4th

2009-07-19T16:33:00.003-04:00

The 4th was unexpected and fun. We thought we would not be able to see any fireworks this year from our rooftop, since they were setting them off at the Hudson this year, but we had an amazing view. It was a magical night with the moon out, friends, beer, and incredible food thanks to my buds who can cook like nobodies business.

I have been really bad about posting the past few months, but I have just gotten back from traveling, first to Texas and then the Outer Banks of NC. Keep coming back, I promise pictures shortly.

Tableau Vivant of the Delirium Constructions

2009-03-19T15:22:00.001-04:00

2009-03-19T15:20:00.001-04:00

2009-03-19T14:58:00.005-04:00

This past Saturday, the wonderful photographer, Sarah Small, invited me to photograph her nudes and cocktails birthday extravaganza, Tableau Vivant of the Delirium Constructions, held at Jewel Street Studios .

It was a party to remember, and I had a blast. Many of Sarah's prints hung on a wall overlooking the party, which looked beautiful, printed by the talented April Renae, of Dogleaf Studios.

As you can see above, there were incredible models, who not only satiated our voyeuristic cravings, but put on an amazing performance. They descended from the stairs about half way through the party, and took stage to hold poses where beautiful dynamics were frozen in time. Sarah then walked through and talked to the models, they would come to life and their interactions would change, and they would re-freeze.

It was art, theater, and fun.

Philly Revisited

2009-03-18T16:05:00.003-04:00

2009-03-18T15:58:00.004-04:00

So I went back to Philly shortly after my first visit to house sit. Thanks Mona and Val! It was beautiful, and Rebecca came out to hang out with me..which had fun and delicious results. We made yummy breakfast crepes with goat cheese and chives, and then we went to the science museum to enjoy the planetarium, pictured above. Not to mention amazing sunsets and ice floes.

Punching Face

2009-03-17T11:18:00.009-04:00

My friend Katie Deacon took me to her friends' Ari and Ian's boxing match at Gleason's Gym a while back. I am finally catching up on my web postings....Unfortunately we only caught the last two rounds, but it was a good fight: it was a tie. Gleason's ripped us off a bit at $20 for the last 5 minutes of the fight, but it was my first live match.

Philly

2009-01-09T23:17:00.003-05:00

My friend and amazing artist Gillian (http://www.gillianswilson.blogspot.com) and I took a short getaway to her hometown of Philly. Cheap but yummy Chinese, Mutter Musuem...all sorts of medical oddities, sushi, swimming, sauna, movies, amazing view, night walks. In 29 hours. Wow, a girl can't complain.

lets go dancing

2008-11-25T00:50:00.003-05:00

Pulled these out of my archive, I think it may be my not so subconscious telling me to go dance. Or telling you to go dance....

Protesting Prop 8

2008-11-17T22:24:00.001-05:00

2008-11-17T22:18:00.002-05:00

On Saturday, I headed out to City Hall to protest Prop 8. It was a good turnout, around 4,000 people. After the protest was herded away from City Hall, it went to the streets. We marched up to Union Square and on it went. People were in good spirits and it was a lot of fun. My favorite moment was after people were jumping up and down to the loudspeaker, a guy next to me said "Leave it to the gays to add cardio to a protest". Yes my friend, yes.

I fell into a burning ring of fire...

2008-11-04T19:40:00.003-05:00

An unexpected surprise at Galapagos Art Space in DUMBO. I went for my friend April Renae's performance piece, and then after a Halloween Masquerade Ball was being thrown by Gemini and Scorpio where The Gyronauts were performing with their enchanting hoops of fire as seen above.

Rooftop Poi

2008-11-04T19:36:00.002-05:00

This was a night of presidential debates that led to poi, beer, and moonlight.

The Darkness Before Midnight

2008-09-28T21:55:00.005-04:00

2008-09-28T21:53:00.000-04:00

2008-09-28T21:46:00.003-04:00

These are a few of my photos (15 out of around 55) from the group show, Subdivision, I was in for the DUMBO ARTS FEST... for those of you that couldn't make it during this weekend of drizzle and debates. The show looked great as a whole and it was so rad to see so many artists work throughout DUMBO. Thanks to those of you that supported by making to trek out.

2008-09-17T14:40:00.007-04:00

DUMBO ARTS FESTIVAL: SUBDIVISION

Please join me during The DUMBO Arts Festival for the opening reception of Subdivision: Individual Intent, the opening is on Friday, September 26th 6PM to 10PM.

Gallery hours are on Saturday, September 27th and Sunday, September 28th 12PM-6PM.

Pochron Studios
20 Jay Street
11th Floor Suite 1100
Brooklyn, NY 11201

F Train to York Street

I hope to see you at the opening! BOOZE AND ART AND ROOFTOP!

beach design

2008-09-04T01:30:00.003-04:00

I love what details I see when walking down the beach...dead creatures being eaten by other creatures in the sand, patterns left by the tides. Can't beat sand in your toes (and not as pleasantly everywhere else by the time you get home)

Bay Area, CA

2008-09-04T01:21:00.006-04:00

We went along highway 1, the Pacific, and the expanse of water and hills was awesome. Salt water smell, eucalyptus scent. Such a contrast to nyc....buildings piled up, cement, people everywhere, smells of food, garbage, unknown.

Home

2008-09-03T23:44:00.002-04:00

I went down to Carolina for a bit. The fresh Smokey Mountain air and warm sunshine did the trick. It was wonderful to hang out with the family, drink wine with old friends, see the stars and shoot a shotgun wedding (pics to come).

These are some I am thinking about for my ongoing Domestic Still Life series....

There are more pics on the way from out West.

2008-08-11T17:38:00.004-04:00

Just a few random evening/night images for your nocturnal viewing.

“Using words to describe magic is like using a screwdriver to cut roast beef” -- Tom Robbins

Blue

2008-07-25T18:30:00.002-04:00

I put this series of Polaroids together for a submission, and this is the statement that goes with it:

Blue

From the desert sky of Colorado to the deteriorating landmarks of New Orleans and Coney Island, Blue is the idea of fluidity, openness, and impermanence. It is a personal documentation of nostalgia and loss. Having lived numerous places in my life and moving countless times in each place, I have acquired a taste for travel and a longing for home. These images, shot with my Spectra Polaroid camera, soon to become a thing of the past, take on the same attributes of nomadic dreams and childhood nostalgia.

Peach Tartes, Coney Island

2008-07-23T17:06:00.003-04:00

This was an amazing Burlesque show. It was on June 27th, as part of Burlesque on the Beach which happens every Thursday and Friday. Beautiful girls, beach, freaks, and beer. What more could a girl ask for?

A great friend and great writer Linnea Covington (www.linneacovington.com) wrote about it for the NY Press:
http://www.nypress.com/blogx/display_blog.cfm?bid=15760980

Domestic Still Lifes

2008-07-23T16:02:00.000-04:00

This is a series in progress. These are the beginnings.