Siemon Allen FLAT Book

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flat book cover, 1999	THE FLAT GALLERY (1993 - 1995) A Documentation and Critical Examination of an Informal Art Organisation in Durban by Siemon Allen Published by FLAT INTERNATIONAL, 1999 In 1999 I published a comprehensive history of the FLAT Gallery in a 320 page full colour volume. Currently only 16 copies of this limited edition book are in circulation. PDF versions of the various chapters or the complete book can be downloaded by clicking the PDF buttons below. In the first two chapters I began by first defining what is meant by an ‘alternative space’ and by looking at the historical development of such spaces both in South Africa and the United States of America. This included an investigation into the ideological motivations and socio-political influences behind such spaces, as well as an exploration of what is meant by ‘alternative practice’, which in some ways is inseparable from the mission of the ‘alternative space.’ This text was by no means a comprehensive survey of alternative spaces in South Africa or the United States, but rather a tracing of the phenomenon with relevant examples. I tried to explore the similarities that existed between the FLAT and other contemporary artist initiatives in South Africa and the United States, drawing comparisons between the FLAT and other similar venues. The third chapter examined the particular circumstances that catalyzed the FLAT Gallery in the specific cultural and historical context of Durban, South Africa in 1993 and 1994. The fourth chapter was constructed as a chronological documentation of the FLAT Gallery’s programme including interviews and extensive visual and audio archives. With this archival information and with detailed descriptions of each event, exhibition or performance, I wanted to create a comprehensive record of the FLAT Gallery’s activities. This included an investigation into the historical influences, with specific examples of linkages to other artist-motivated projects in the past. The final chapter concluded with those ‘FLAT activities’ that continued beyond the operation of the physical space.
	ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS CONTENTS FOREWORD by Jay Horsburgh AUTHOR'S NOTE INTRODUCTION (636 KB)
	ALTERNATIVE PRACTICES ALTERNATIVE SPACES (1.4 MB)
	THE PRE-FLAT ENVIRONMENT (416 KB)
	THE FLAT FILE: Thomas Barry, October 15, 1993 Johannesburg Art Now, October 21, 1993 Carol-Anne Gainer, Ledelle Moe, Janina Erlich, October 29, 1993 A Minor Retrospective - Kendell Geers, November 2, 1993 Niel Jonker, November 23, 1993 Clinton De Menezes, November 26, 1993 Andrew Strode, December 2, 1993 (2 MB)
	Melissa Marrins, Taryn Fox, December 5, 1993 Artworks in Paper / Paperworks in Art, December 8, 1993 The First Time, AUDIO Recording, December 1993 I'm Rite, I'm Rong, AUDIO Recording, December 31, 1993 Ostrich-Egg Beading Workshop, January 1994 BAT Funding Proposal, February 2, 1994 David Southam, February 4, 1994 Durban Arts Funding, February 9, 1994 SWANS, February 11, 1994 (2.4 MB)
	The Miracle Filter, AUDIO Recordings, Feb - April, 1994 Crusaders Fighting Art's Demise, February 1994 Walter Hayn, Janine Holloway, George Holloway & Sarah - Act, February 18, 1994 Adrian Hermanides - Forecast of Human Trembling, February 25, 1994 Gainer, Gumede, Barry, Moe, Hermanides, Allen, March 5, 1994 (2 MB)
	Ledelle Moe - Forecast of Human Trembling II, March 18, 1994 Jay Horsburgh, Melisssa Marrins - Sub/Merge: SoNic CaLcuLAS(so)O, Mar 26, 1994 Letter from Henri Etienne De Kock, April 9, 1994 (1.9 MB)
	The Festival of Laughter, April 17, 1994 Sam Ntshangase School Workshop, May 1994 Piers Mansfield, May 6, 1994 Experiments & Conversation, AUDIO Recording, May 1994 Shaft / FLAT, AUDIO Recording, May 1994 Bread & Pliers, AUDIO Recording, May 1994 Experiments, AUDIO Recording, May 1994 Biennale Proposal, AUDIO Recording, May 1994 Conversation, AUDIO Recording, May 1994 (1.5 MB)
	The First Internotional Theatre of Communication, May 20, 1994 (1.3 MB)
	Zulu for Medics, AUDIO Recording, May 21-30, 1994 Volkskas Atelier, June 1, 1994 Superman / Sound Effects & Guitar, AUDIO Recording, June 1994 Spanish Train / English Train, AUDIO Recording, June 1994 Siemon Allen - Songs for Nella, June 10, 1994 Walker Paterson, June 17, 1994 Zahed Meer, July 1, 1994 Nina / Paul / Paul / Nina, AUDIO Recording, July 7, 1994 Especially the Fact that I don't have a Car, AUDIO Recording, July 7, 1994 Brendon Bussy & others - Aural Hygeine / The Listening Chamber, July 8, 1994 Thokzani Mthiyane, Griselda Hunt - Crude Nothingness, July 18, 1994 (1.7 MB)
	Samkelo Matoti, July 22, 1994 33 x 33 Degrees, July 1994 Quasi-Stellar Objects, July 31,1994 Jerome Mkize, Clinton De Menezes, August 12, 1994 The Cultural Desk Form of the Future, August 10, 1994 Group Drawing Exhibition, August 18, 1994 Ricciotti Ensemble, October 7-10, 1994 Faiza Fayers, Nirvana Ranjith, Lene Tempelhoff, October 14, 1994 TOCSIN, October 1994 Jeffrey Brandt, October 26, 1994 Rhett Martyn, November 23, 1994 Sculpture Workshop Exhibition, December 2, 1994 FLAT Burn-Out, January 18, 1995 (2 MB)
	THE POST-FLAT CONTINUATION - A TEMPORARY CONCLUSION What's Your Case - Suitcase Exhibition, May 16, 1995 FLAT Newsletter FLAT Issue 1 - Greg Streak, April 1995 FLAT Issue 2 - Essex Road Gallery, July 1995 FLAT Issue 3 - Melissa Marrins, August 1995 The FLAT Compact Discs & Meredith Vie A Black Voice (4 MB)
	BIBLIOGRAPHY INDEX (140 KB)
	THE FLAT GALLERY (1993 - 1995) by Siemon Allen published by FLAT INTERNATIONAL, 1999 complete book in PDF format (19.3 MB)