An olfactory guide to Los Angeles
What does your neighborhood smell like? It’s not a question we ask ourselves often, and yet it’s something we notice every day. Is it the smell of sea air, freshly-cut…
By Avishay Artsy • • 1 min readKCRW’s Steve Chiotakis, left, takes a big whiff of East LA from a scent strip held by artist Brian Goeltzenleuchter.
What does your neighborhood smell like?
It’s not a question we ask ourselves often, and yet it’s something we notice every day. Is it the smell of sea air, freshly-cut grass, car exhaust, bacon-wrapped hot dogs, urine, or something else?
Los Angeles artist Brian Goeltzenleuchter posted a survey online and received dozens of responses. He used that information to create 11 scents that correspond to different neighborhoods, from East LA to Harbor City.
This Saturday from 11-6, visitors to the Santa Monica Museum of Art are invited to share their zip code, and wear their neighborhood’s scent.
Throughout the day, a collective fragrance of museum-goers will fill the space, creating a unique aroma.
The result is a collective scent-scape of the greater Los Angeles area.
The event will be held against the vibrant backdrop of the exhibition Robert Swain: The Form of Color.
Goeltzenleuchter spoke with KCRW’s Steve Chiotakis about the idea behind the project, and what these smells say about the people who live in LA.