Adding a creative spin to this year’s Cromwell Street Party & Fireworks event, you are invited to mark the 100th anniversary of the Exquisite Corpse, a unique artistic tradition.
An iconic drawing game that has delighted artists and creators for nearly a century. First developed by the Surrealists in France, the game is a playful, collaborative exercise where multiple people contribute to a single drawing, each unaware of what the others have drawn. It results in a piece that is as unexpected as it is unique, combining different styles and imaginations in a single, often comical, artwork.
To commemorate this special milestone, join the community art-making event outside the newly opened Rachel Hirabayashi Gallery + Emporium. Whether you're a seasoned artist or just want to have some fun, you can join in by drawing on folded papers, adding your part to a collective masterpiece. Feel free to create as many panels as you wish, working in any style or medium that speaks to you.
At the end of the event, these collaborative artworks will be displayed in the gallery’s Reading Room for a month, with proceeds from their sale funding scholarships for senior art students joining Rachel for future workshops. The event will run from 5 pm until sunset, culminating in a dazzling fireworks display. This celebration promises to be a joyous blend of creativity, community, and artistic discovery. Keep an eye out for the exhibition in November—it’s sure to be as surprising as the game itself!
Rachel Hirabayashi Gallery & Emporium is located in the Stumbles Building in the Cromwell Heritage Precinct. Follow them on Facebook @Rachel Hirabayashi Gallery+Emporium or visit https://www.cromwellheritageprecinct.co.nz