STCC gallery invites public to participate in surrealist drawing exhibit
'The Exquisite Corpse' exhibit is now on display at the Carberry Gallery.
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - The Amy H. Carberry Fine Arts Gallery at Springfield Technical Community College will feature The Exquisite Corpse, a participatory drawing exhibit inspired by a Surrealist art game that dates to 1925.
President Dr. Jennifer G. Cournoyer on Wednesday, Oct. 28, from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. will bring her “Desk on the Move” to the Carberry Gallery in Building 28 to create an exquisite corpse drawing alongside students and visitors. The event will offer the public an opportunity to join in the creative process and experience this collaborative art form firsthand.
Students work in the gallery with Peter Zierlein, a faculty member.
Inspired by the work of Parisian Surrealists, including André Breton, Marcel Duchamp and Yves Tanguy, The Exquisite Corpse embraces chance and spontaneity. Participants draw different parts of a figure without seeing the work that came before theirs, allowing unexpected combinations and imaginative imagery to emerge.
In this STCC version, the creative unconscious takes the lead. Should the drawing begin with a head, a torso or a pair of feet? The choice is up to each participant. Visitors are invited to contribute to this collaborative drawing game by creating their own figurative imagery, often with whimsical results. Participants see only a small portion of the previous artist’s contribution before adding their own. Once a figure is complete, the entire drawing is revealed and displayed alongside dozens of other examples. Art supplies are provided.
Exhibit details
- On view: Wednesday, Oct. 21, through Friday, Nov. 13, 2026
- President’s visit and participatory drawing event: Wednesday, Oct. 28, from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m.
- Location: Amy H. Carberry Fine Arts Gallery, Building 28, first floor, Springfield Technical Community College
An example of a participatory drawing on display at the Carberry Gallery.
Surrealism emerged in the aftermath of World War I as a 20th-century art movement that explored dreams, the unconscious and unexpected juxtapositions, often producing unusual and compelling compositions. The gallery also features a short documentary from the Museum of Modern Art in New York that examines the historical and cultural context of The Exquisite Corpse.
The gallery and all associated events are free and open to the public.
For convenient access, visitors should enter campus through the Pearl Street gate. Public parking is available in K Lot, behind Building 28.
Fall gallery hours: Mondays and Wednesdays, 12:30 to 4:30 p.m.; Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1 to 4 p.m.; and Fridays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Appointments are also available by emailing speron@stcc.edu.
The exhibit was made possible in part through support from the School of Liberal and Professional Studies, the Amy H. Carberry Fine Arts Gallery and the college’s Fine Arts Program.
About the Amy H. Carberry Fine Arts Gallery
Endowed in 2003, the Amy H. Carberry Fine Arts Gallery at Springfield Technical Community College features work by local and nationally recognized artists, as well as STCC students. Located on the first floor of Building 28 on the Pearl Street side of campus, the gallery is supported in part by the School of Liberal and Professional Studies and the Fine Arts Program.
For more information, visit stcc.io/carberry or find the Amy H. Carberry Fine Arts Gallery on Facebook.
About Springfield Technical Community College
STCC, the Commonwealth’s only technical community college, continues the pioneering legacy of the Springfield Armory with comprehensive and technical education in manufacturing, STEM, healthcare, business, social services, and the liberal arts. STCC’s highly regarded workforce, certificate, degree, and transfer programs are the most affordable in Springfield and provide opportunity for the vitality of Western Massachusetts. Founded in 1967, the College—a designated Hispanic-Serving Institution—seeks to close achievement gaps among students who traditionally face societal barriers. STCC supports students as they transform their lives through intellectual, cultural, and economic engagement while becoming thoughtful, committed, and socially responsible graduates.