about

Exquisite Corpse Collective is based on the parlor game, cadavre exquis, of creating art in turn. Played in groups of three, the first player would draw an image and then fold over the drawing until just a portion was revealed, guiding the next player where their drawing would begin and so on. Many of the images were based on the human form, but rarely was death or a corpse the actual theme. The collaboration is more about what the previous artist left as a marker, your position in the triptych, (top, middle or bottom), while considering the over-all theme.

Here on Exquisite Corpse Collective we’re playing with photography. Groups of 3 players create a final triptych of  photographs by revealing a sliver of their image for the next player. Most of the image remains hidden, just enough is revealed in the sliver so the next person can begin. Each participant creates their work as an extension of the previous sliver, always basing their photograph on the theme and of course their position of top, middle or bottom in the triptych.

Every Monday, the player in the top position will post a sliver of a full sized image of their choosing. The title of the first player’s image sets the theme, (and title), for the week’s triptych.

When you as the viewer see the sliver on Monday, the theme for the week’s triptych and the person who is starting will have their name in parenthesis. As the week progresses, the artists names are added into the parenthesis so you the viewer, will know who has posted.

On Wednesday, the middle player posts their sliver image and it will be added to the first sliver from Monday, along with their name being added to the title.

On Friday, the final, bottom sliver is added to the previous two slivers completing the triptych and later, the final, full-sized triptych will be presented.

UPDATED 10/11

We’re slowing things down in our play here as I never liked how Friday’s turned out. There was never enough time to see the slivers together before the reveal was revealed. And never enough time to appreciate all three images together.

Instead, we’ll have three players playing for the entire month. Each Monday for the first three weeks,  a sliver will be revealed and will stay up for the entire week. The final, full sized images will always be the fourth week of the month and will ride until the next month and a new theme.

I’m very excited by the slower pace and I hope you are too!

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Exquisite Corpse Collective was created by Kristen Geraci, a photographer recently transplanted from NYC, (by way of NJ), to Southern California with her little family.

These days I’m a light-chasing, book reading, wanna-be foodie in a devoted, passionate and commited love affair with Polaroid film.

You can find me on Flickr and Twitter and in my shop, Violet Hour Photography and the good old-fashioned way: acukiki@gmail.com