The FLAT COMPACT DISKS & MEREDITH VIE1995 - 1997

Once in the States I continued to research alternative spaces and make work, exhibiting a number of large-scale ‘architectural’ installations. I also began the preparation of two compilations of FLAT audio materials for inclusion in the FLAT FILE document. This effort resulted in two sets of limited edition compact disks. On one was a compilation of purely FLAT audio material, and on the other a document of my own audio work made at the FLAT, as well as some post-FLAT material that came out of the original FLAT tapes.As had been the case with Nella Nomeis, my pseudonym used for the ‘invented’ band review some years back, I also created a persona, this time, “Meredith Vie”, to author a ‘review’ of this audio material. On returning to Durban, in 1996, I wrote this ‘review’ of these two ‘limited edition’ FLAT CDs, and submitted it to the Mail and Guardian (November 7). Interest from then editor, Charl Blignaut, led to a number of ‘calls’ to Meredith Vie, who of course did not exist. Jenah McCarthy, a young artist who had been researching alternative art spaces in Durban, agreed to my request to ‘be Meredith Vie’ and participated in the ‘intervention’ by returning Blignaut’s calls. Various communications ensued between them, and the document was edited a number of times with promises made for a publication date. However, for some unknown reason, perhaps ‘Meredith’s’ elusiveness, the article was never published.

 Correspondence between Charl Blignaut of the Mail & Guardian and Meredith Vie, 1996