NATCHITOCHES — Northwestern State University Associate Professor of Art Corbin Covher will be sharing an art project he helped develop, “Collaborative Art the Game,” three times over the next two weeks. 

The game will be played at Wellness Fest which is on Nov. 5 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Randall J. Webb Wellness Recreation and Activity Center, at the Louisiana Art Educator Conference in Alexandria on Nov. 9 and with students in NSU’s Presidential Leadership Program on Nov. 14. 

The game, created by Covher and designed by Emily Dawson, has elements of art therapy, ice breaking and team building. Covher said the game takes the form of cards with prompts that guide, educate and break down the barriers of art making. From a deck you draw a card and read the card, which has prompts like horizontal, analogous or heavy. You put it face up on the discard pile, decide on your colors, then spend less than two minutes to make your move with paint onto a panel. 

“Moves are to be abstract in nature only, not trying to look like anything representational,” said Covher. “Once people make their first move, or see others do it, it becomes easier to approach. They make their move, then get back in line and do it again. I warn people not to get offended if what they do gets covered up, it happens all the time. And, in fact if they break the rules, paint a butterfly or letters or anything representational we will immediately destroy or cover up those moves.” 

Covher got the idea for the game as a graduate student at NSU in 2010 when, along with other public art and collaborative projects, he created a community canvas “that broke down the intimidating nature of art, making it into a game for everyone.”  

Collaborative Art the Game is a creative outlet and has an educational component regarding art terminology but is also an emotional release. 

“It’s proof that art therapy is real,” he said. “I have heard people say, ‘Why do I feel so much better?’ after spreading some paint around on a canvas playing the game.” 

For more information on Collaborative Art the Game contact Covher at covherc@nsula.edu.