Aromatic Automatisms: A Scent Portrait Workshop (in person)

Is synesthesia just for the lucky few? Can it be cultivated? In fact, there are accessible methods to induce a sensorial “cross-talk” in anyone. Those with innate synesthia have a permanent, involuntary, and fixed neurologic function; reportedly the rarest variant is olfactory-visual synesthesia (smell/color/shape). But it is not the only road to multisensoriality.

A temporary synesthesia that may occur during hallucinogen intoxication is well known in the literature. Less known are synesthetic experiences during trance states. In this class we will learn a simple method borrowed from Spiritualism known as “surrealistic automatism” popularized in the 1920’s by artists like Dali and Andre Breton. A similar method of “aroma painting” is used by students of Rudolf Steiner to create portraits of scented plants.

We will examine examples from three synesthete perfumers: Christopher Brosius, Frederic Malle and Bruno Fazzolari (including a look at his book Synesthesia in the IAO Library).

(This method requires no formal artistic training: aromatics, colored pencils, and paper provided.)

Instructor: J. W. Dotson

Cost: $70.00

Duration: 2 hours

Attendance cap: 15 people

About J. W. Dotson

J.W. Dotson MD is a psychiatrist and an independent scholar fascinated by scent sorcery, cultural and anthropological olfaction studies, ethnobotany, premodern medicine, medical astrology, and astrological magic and remediation. James has presented esoteric fragrance lectures as part of The Scent and Society series at the Institute for Art and Olfaction and is a recurring speaker for The Salem Witchcraft and Folklore Festival and Morbid Anatomy. He is currently an instructor at The Celestial Arts Education Library and serves on the Advisory Board of the Archive of Healing.

Registration Required:

Please note that you must reserve your space in advance. If you just show up without reserving a spot, there is no guarantee we will be able to accommodate you.

All levels are welcome, but this session is 18 and up (or 14+, with adult supervision).

Please review our cancellation policy before signing up.

Materials:

Handouts and materials are included in the sign-up cost, and provided by the IAO during class.

Location:

We are located in Los Angeles’ historic Chinatown neighborhood, on a pedestrian street.

Street Address: 932 Chung King Road Los Angeles CA. 90012

To find us: Chung King Road is a pedestrian-only road that runs parallel to Hill Street, between Hill St and Yale St. See more information here: http://artandolfaction.com/visit

Attendance and Refund Policy

This is an in-person class that will take place at the Institute for Art and Olfaction. Unfortunately, we cannot offer refunds or credit for this class. Note also that event tickets are non-transferable.

Thank you!

Host or Publisher The Institute for Art and Olfaction