In the summer of 2024, the Olfactory Media Library was activated for five events across four locations in the US and Canada.
During these initial workshop events, the library was equipped with an archive of tools and materials designed for experimental interpretation of, and performances in response to, our shared airspaces. In these events, we gathered with small groups to tune our senses to the atmosphere as a shared and multispecies commons, and collectively consider our roles in its futures.
Activities were aimed at shifting our sensory perception toward the smells and signals wafting through the air, where volatile organic compounds released by plants intermingle with human-induced emissions. The events offered differed by location and audience and included workshops, multisensory soundwalks, artistic performances and experimentation, and discussion.
North Braddock, PA
Tuning in to the Air
Friday, July 12, 10-11:30 am: General Sisters with Braddock Youth Project
Saturday, July 13, 2-3:30 pm: General Sisters
In this multisensory workshop, we tuned in to the volatile organic compounds of the surrounding ecologies and industries, released by plants as well as human-induced emissions such as those of the nearby Edgar Thomson Steel Works. We considered, what are we capable of experiencing with our senses? What do we gain and lose when we augment our senses? What are we capable of sensing with our senses? What do we gain and lose when we augment our senses? Our first event was focused on working with young people from the Braddock Youth Project, and the second event was opened more broadly to the public. Thank you to Ginger Brooks Takahashi and Edith Abeyta for hosting the project, and to the participants of the Braddock Youth Project.
Chicago, IL
Listening to the Air
Monday July 15, 6-7pm: Good City Group Soundwalk Series, West Ridge Nature Park in Chicago
On this multisensory soundwalk, we gathered in the West Ridge Nature Park to tune our senses to the atmosphere as a shared and multispecies commons. We guided participants through a series of activities and scores, bringing silent qualities of air into our sonic space. Thank you to Susanne Schnell and Odile Compagnon of the Good City Group for hosting the project.
Winnipeg, MB
Olfactory Media Library: Atmospheres as Shared and Multispecies Commons
Wednesday, July 17: Plug-In ICA Summer Institute
In this longer workshop, we gathered with the Plug-In ICA Summer Institute participants for artistic experimentation, discussion, and activities to consider artistic, sensorial, and embodied forms of noticing and addressing the atmosphere as a shared and multispecies commons. Activities included sensory walks, scent training for plant warning signals, and performing scores with hand-made VOC sonification sensors. Thank you to Allison Yearwood for hosting the project, and to the Summer Institute participants.
Lacombe, AB
Olfactory Media Library: Multispecies and Multisensory Listening
Sunday, July 21: Moosebed Artist Residency
During this one-day workshop on July 21, 2024 at Moosebed residency, we gathered a small group of artists working on similar themes for activities and discussions related to air quality, scent, and our multispecies atmospheric commons. The day’s activities took place in the wake of air quality concerns during regional forest fires, which took a central role in our discussions and activities. Thank you to Heather Caverhill for hosting us at Moosebed, and to Heather Caverhill, Christina Battle, April Dean, and Tomas Jonsson for participating and contributing to the workshop and discussions.
Special thank you to Tomas Jonsson for connecting the project to the Canadian host organizations.
