The Strange Case of Nadja 7, Alesandra Crowley & the Meeah Williams Look-Alikes

[De Villo Sloan]

Mail-art by Alesandra Crowley (Berkeley, California, USA) and/or IUOMA member Meeah Williams (Brooklyn, New York, USA)

December 9, 2014 - Last week Borderline Grafix (Austin, Texas, USA) posted online documentation of mail-art he received from an unknown artist supposedly in Westport, Massachusetts, USA. He attributed the work to CZ Lovecraft because Lovecraft’s Westport address appears on the front of the envelope even though the name Nadja Seven accompanies the address and not Lovecraft’s. (Nadja Seven is possibly a reference to an anime character.)

http://iuoma-network.ning.com/profiles/blogs/cz-lovecraft-your-post...

Richard Canard (Carbondale, Illinois, USA) observed the actual work sent Borderline Grafix resembled the distinctive style of Meeah Williams in Brooklyn. The likeness was uncanny to the point where it had to be considered a brilliant forgery or an original. Thus the buzz began. Why would Meeah Williams claim to be Nadja Seven and use CZ Lovecraft’s address in Massachusetts? Questions were posted. No answers were forthcoming from those in a position to explain the odd affair. Only silence.

Now, lightening has struck again. I received an envelope containing this spectacular asemic work that reminds me of a tapestry. The work, approximately 8 X 10 inches, is one of the finest original asemic works I have ever received. Here are some detail shots:

And another:

I doubt that anyone familiar with Meeah Williams’ work would deny she created this extraordinary piece. If anyone does object or has insights, please leave a comment! The envelope is equally spectacular and also includes the perplexing information that this was sent by an Alesandra Crowley (any relation to Aleister Crowley?) in Berkeley:

And the reverse:

I am thrilled to document asemics of this caliber but unsure how to thank the creator. Alesandra Crowley and her Berkeley address both appear to be complete fictions. Nadja Seven is a similar dead end; she might or might not have something to do with CZ Lovecraft, who is a real person.

Is this a conspiracy? I wonder if I am part of some cleverly orchestrated mail-art event, the purpose of which is beyond me now but will be made clear eventually by the mastermind(s) behind it. Until then, I am only a hapless pawn. Will similar mailings be received (or have they already been received?) by unsuspecting others? Or is this the end? Another cold case in the bulging mail-art X Files?

An incredible trashbook was also included in this mailing also revealing Meeah Williams’ distinctive style:

I could speculate concerning cryptic messages, but it is simply all too vague.

Many layers of wonderful Trashpo are included.

Some especially cryptic messages on this page (above).

I am thrilled to be able to exhibit this FAB work but wearily resigned to the fact that the hard cases all seem to arrive on the MinXus-Lynxus (and my) doorstep . I hope that someday, all will be explained.

[Nancy Bell Scott]

Here are the 2 pieces I was extremely lucky to receive from the tricky Ms Williams. Great prank, really, I loved it. But as you say, the real thrill is that her asemic work is so very fine: alive, intricate, deep, gorgeous. (Scanner was down, sorry for this delay.) :

 

[De Villo Sloan]

You too NBS!

What has come of this is not so much the revelation of a prank or m-a performance by Meeah but the awareness of some of the finest asemic work she has done, IMHO. Beautiful things.

Yes, she has gotten very good w/ trashbooks as well.

[Nancy Bell Scott]

How did I miss this?! Indescribably beautiful, elegant asemic work (the trashbook is no slouch either). You've solved the mystery, DVS, of 2 mail arts received in Maine recently. I should have known they were via meeah, but didn't (one of my stupid days). All makes sense now, sort of. She did play quite the trick with one, making the return address on it that of B.G., which I know (but with other name). Tonight I'll scan them and blog.   

[De Villo Sloan]

Just for the record, Dan Mouer received one too:

http://mysweetinbox.blogspot.com/2014/12/the-mysteries-deepen-but-m...

[De Villo Sloan]

Thank you, Richard. That is a very enthusiastic endorsement. In the thread, we now have Richard B. & Richard C.

This morning, before Richard C. talked me down from searching for The Great Conspiracy in whatever it is Meeah is or isn't doing, I began connecting Nadja 7 to film references: "Seven" and "Jennifer 8." There are related clues in the trashbook, but I think over-analyzing it to that degree is absolutely paranoid. Oh, and Breton wrote a book called "Nadja," didn't he?

The comments have shifted in favor of the beautiful asemics, and that's great.

[Richard BAUDET]

Congratulations  to Alesandra  Crowley & Meeah Williams !!! I love your work !!!

[De Villo Sloan]

And I thought of Susan McAllister because my envelope has a Berkeley address, and Susan is the only person I've exchanged work with in Berkeley for some time. But PO Box 1374 is not her address.

[De Villo Sloan]

Thank you Susan and Moan - deeply appreciated. The architecture of the thing stands more revealed. Asemics are one of the only commonality I can see, and asemics are about meaninglessness, something that appears to represent something but in actuality represents nothing.

[Susan McAllister]

Yes, DeVillo, I have received an asemic piece I believe to be from Meeah. There is no return address and the postmark is not visible on the very dark reverse side of the card. However the address is written my the same hand as yours. The front is done in my favorite black, white and red colors. I freely admit to being absolutely ignorant about asemics , but in my opinion one of the loveliest asemics I have ever seen. Though I am drooling over BG's piece and yours. The style of the front seems absolutely fresh and new to me, but after studying the back I was able to decide that it matched the style of work I'd seen on Meeah's blog. I thanked her for the card, but haven't heard anything from her. It will be interesting to see how this mystery plays out.

[De Villo Sloan]

its tail, that is