WATERVILLE\’S EXQUISITE CORPSES
An annual public mural created in the form of exquisite corpse by a diverse group of Waterville dwellers ultimately forming a mural series across Waterville.
WHAT IS EXQUISITE CORPSE?
Exquisite corpse (cadavre exquis) is a collaborative art game in which words or images are collectively assembled. The technique was invented in 1925 by the French Surrealists as a game of chance and experimentation. Each collaborator adds to the composition in sequence either by following a rule or by seeing the end of what the previous person contributed. In the case of the drawings shown below, the pieces of paper were folded to conceal the previous section of the drawing before the next artist added their piece. The technique is often used to create bodies, hence the word “corpse”, but can also be applied in other forms.
WHAT ARE WATERVILLE\’S EXQUISITE CORPSES?
This project is a mural series in the form of exquisite corpse. It is inspired by an exhibition at Space Gallery, Breaking Boredom Project, and The Exquisite Corpse of the Unknown Veteran. The goal of these murals is to allow the communities of Waterville to create public art that represents their visions of Waterville.
The murals will be created by:
- The South End Teen Center
- at least 1 Colby student
- at least 1 Waterville High School student
- a group from a Waterville Senior Center
- Waterville Creates!
- a local business owner or employee.
The muralists will use the phrase “my Waterville” as the theme for their piece.
LOCATION
The first mural will be located on the Temple Street side of 121 Main Street (Joe’s Smoke Shop & Happy Trails Inc) and then the exercise will be annually repeated in multiple locations across Waterville. These murals can be on outdoor walls, on bridges, or on ceilings. The project should push the boundaries of the term \’mural\’ and put public art in areas where art would not typically exist.
![Main Street, Waterville, Maine Date: [ca. 1930–1945] Format: Postcards/Cards Genre: Postcards Location: Boston Public Library Print Department Waterville, Maine (shelf locator) Collection (local): The Tichnor Brothers Collection Series: Maine Postcards Subjects: Cities & towns Places: Maine > Kennebec (county) > Waterville Extent: 1 print (postcard) : linen texture, color ; 3 1/2 x 5 1/2 in.](http://web.colby.edu/urbandesigncoop/files/2017/12/06_10_003930-1024x655.jpg)
PARTNERS
ANNUAL PROJECT TIMELINE
January-March | Meetings with the Waterville\’s Exquisite Corpses Board to establish location and budgeting for the year. |
April | Approval of mural location. |
End of April | Put out call for artwork. Put this out to The South End Teen Center, Colby students, Waterville High School, Waterville Senior Centers, Waterville Creates!, and local businesses. Artworks must be flexible and subject to some change based on the lines where the person before them left off. |
End of May-Beginning of June | The Waterville\’s Exquisite Corpses Board will choose and announce artists to participate! |
Mid June | Participants will receive budget for materials. |
End of June | Orientation for mural participants. This will teach them the skills they need to ensure that their panel is permanent and that they use materials correctly. |
July 1st | Public installation party at the location of the mural! The party will be catered by a local Waterville restaurant and each of the artists will be introduced. Artist will begin their work for 2 weeks after the party. |
July 1st-September 15th | Mural is created by 6 artists. Each artist has 2 weeks to complete their panel before it is covered for the next artist. |
September 16th | Mural is covered in protective material. |
September 20th | Big reveal party! All artwork is uncovered and the final mural is presented! This event will also be catered by a local Waterville restaurant. The event is public.
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