On Friday Marian van der Zon will step onto the Malaspina Theatre stage surrounded by “various instruments and soundmakers and playthings” for her biggest performance since a car accident left her unable to play music in 2013.
Van der Zon is a member of Meridian, a multimedia performance art group composed of VIU faculty members from the art and design, media studies and women’s studies departments. Robin Davie creates ambient soundscapes, Kevin Mazutinec provides visual animations, Justin McGrail contributes spoken word passages and van der Zon is a vocalist and multi-instrumentalist.
“Basically we take you on this visual, abstract journey,” Mazutinec said.
“So it features sights, sounds, poetry, music and hopefully a deep, affecting performance realm that we bring the audience into.”
Mazuntinec said it was difficult for the group to carry on in van der Zon’s absence and it will be meaningful being on a large stage with her once more.
“Now that she’s with us, it’s whole again,” he said.
Van der Zon is still recovering from the accident and even though she’s only been performing since last summer, her muscle memory has her picking up where she left off.
“It was easier than I anticipated and more joyful,”she said of getting back on stage.
“I guess, too, I remembered how much I love performing.”
WHAT’S ON … Meridian performs at Malaspina Theatre on Friday, April 6 at 7:30 p.m. Admission by donation. No late admission.
arts@nanaimobulletin.com
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