Exhibition Runs:
June 24 - July 3, 2010

Opening Reception:
Thursday, June 24, 8-11pm

Exhibition hours:
Wednesday & Saturday 1-6pm
Friday 4-8pm
Tuesday and Thursday by appointment.

Civilian Art Projects is pleased to present Exquisite Corpse – a collaborative photo project curated by Corcoran Photography alums Jessica Cebra, Dave Gustine, and Marissa Long. Invented by Surrealists in 1925, the Exquisite Corpse method involves a group of collaborators assembling a collection of words or images – each collaborator adds to a composition in sequence, either by following a rule or by being allowed to see only the end of what the previous person has contributed. The technique is similar to an old parlour game called "Consequences" in which players write in turn on a sheet of paper, fold it to conceal part of the writing, and then pass it on to the next player for further contribution.

While the Exquisite Corpse being exhibited at Civilian Art Projects utilizes the method most commonly seen in the writing exercise, words have been substituted here with images. The project began with each of the three co-curators initiating a "set" or "sentence" of images with his or her own photograph. Each of these photographs was then passed on to another photographer, who created a new image in response to the one he or she had received. That new image then served as inspiration for the next photographer, and so on. The project now includes 28 photographers and three sets of images, each of which present both recognizable connections and surprising juxtapositions, and illustrate the responsive, dreamlike aesthetic that makes the exquisite corpse methodology so exquisite.

The project's photographers are an eclectic mix in themselves, including many artists based in D.C., and others living in New York, California, and as far away as China and South Africa. The Exquisite Corpse photographers:

  • Ken Ashton
  • Page Carr
  • Jessica Cebra
  • Jenn DePalma
  • Ginger Farnham
  • Dave Gustine
  • Avi Gupta
  • Kyoko Hamada
  • Whitney Hubbs
  • Paul Jeffreys
  • Marissa Long
  • Seth Lower
  • Michael Lease
  • Kate MacDonnell
  • Antonio McAfee
  • Andy McMillan
  • Ed Panar
  • Laurel Ptak
  • Eric Powell
  • Ahndraya Parlato
  • Cory Riggle
  • Paul Schiek
  • Mike Terzano
  • Zach Storm
  • Sarah Small
  • Asha Schecter
  • Sarah Wilmer
  • Jason Zimmerman



Image credit: Paul Schiek

June 24 - July 3, 2010

Opening Reception: Thursday, June 24, 8-11pm

Civilian Art Projects is pleased to present Exquisite Corpse – a collaborative photo project curated by Corcoran Photography alums Jessica Cebra, Dave Gustine, and Marissa Long. Invented by Surrealists in 1925, the Exquisite Corpse method involves a group of collaborators -- in this case, 28 photographers -- assembling a collection of words or images; each collaborator adds to a composition in sequence, either by following a rule or by being allowed to see only the end of what the previous person has contributed.