An Evening of Surrealist Games
Roger Clark Miller (Mission of Burma, Alloy Orchestra) hosts an evening of Exquisite Corpse games where participants learn and play riotous mind-bending games developed by Andre Breton and his co-conspirators during the 1920s and ’30s, the heyday of surrealism. The consummate master of ceremonies, Miller will explain and lead the games, and he’ll also DJ, providing a surrealistic soundtrack to the evening.
The name Exquisite Corpse is derived from the first word game to be played: “The Exquisite Corpse shall drink the new wine.” Games will include the basic Exquisite Corpse word game, the basic Exquisite Corpse drawing game (advanced drawing skills are not required), the Dream Game, and other varieties of surrealist word games. Says Miller, “The wonder of these games is the unexpected juxtapositions that occur, creating amazingly synchronistic sequences and unexpected meanings and connections.”
The games require 3-4 people (up to 6 in some cases), so there will be a number of tables with different games going on simultaneously. After explaining the games, Miller will stroll the tables, making sure the simple but sometimes oddly confusing rules are followed. Says Miller, “A great virtue of these games is that they are not at all competitive. A person who is an experienced artist may interact with a more naive drawer to produce a brilliant composition. It’s all about the collective work.”
Cash bar by Windham Wines.
“‘A Night of Surrealist Games’ was a first for us and an overwhelming patron favorite. Miller’s knowledge of Surrealism and skill in getting strangers to play together was a smashing success!” — John Andress, Associate Director of Performing Arts, ICA Boston
“Fantastic night – a hilarious, creative, and healthy mix of mind-bend, head-clearing, and humor-refraction. And met great new people – thank you to esteemed host Roger Clark Miller for coming up to Portsmouth to throw an unconventional good time.” — Cliff Lazenby, 3S Artspace, Portsmouth, NH
ADMISSION: $8 in advance, $10 at the door
