NATCHITOCHES – Artist Corbin Covher will host a reception and event to showcase a unique art project, “Collaborative Art the Game,” he developed with other artists and invites participation from anyone who would like to join. The event will be from 5-7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 6 in Orville Hanchey Gallery at Northwestern State University and will feature work by fellow professor of art Matt DeFord and pieces that were created over the past four years with NSU undergraduate and graduate students, Presidential Leadership Program participants, guests at Wellness Fest, Special Olympics athletes, art educator workshop participants, Caddo Parrish high school teachers and more.

The game, created by Covher and designed by Emily Dawson, has elements of art therapy, ice breaking and team building. Guests will be able to see finished results of what the game has produced during its development over the past four years and have an opportunity to play the game and spread some paint.

“The game takes the form of cards,” Covher explained. “There are prompts that guide, educate and break down the barriers of art making.  Each time the game is played, people, especially non-artists, are intimidated or hesitant to start. 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. 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.”

The show will be displayed on the upper floor of Hanchey Gallery while guests are invited to play the game downstairs. DeFord’s solo show will be in Gallery II.

“Often times people get so wrapped up in the game it does not result in a good work of art or anything Matt and I can turn into anything good. But we usually strive to keep 50-60 percent of what a group does and turn it into something pleasing to the eye. If we can’t we just play again with another group of people. I have hosted it for many groups ranging in age from four to 60-something, with groups of three to groups of 87.”

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.” He will have 25 sets of the game for sale.

“I have been working on the aspects of the game as part of my art since the community canvas, thinking through ideas, but started developing the physical aspects of the game right after everyone’s COVID lock down,” he said.

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. The results are extremely varied and give Matt and I a new foundation and challenge to create a successful piece each time.”

For more information on the Sept. 6 event, contact Covher at covherc@nsula.edu.  Information on NSU’s Department of Fine and Graphic Arts is available at https://www.nsula.edu/art/.