Scent and Music: A Course with Maxwell Williams (in person)

This is a two-part class, that takes place on 8/23 and 9/6 at the Institute for Art and Olfaction in Los Angeles. Registration grants entrance to both events.

Class Description:

Why do molecules and waves have such a deep history? Music and scent are interconnected by neurobiology and metaphor. From experimental performance to Spearsian pop saturation, scent inspires music and vice versa. Let’s play the organ, talk notes, smell sounds, listen to perfume, and find harmony in the olfactive and auditory, in a class that draws from history and contemporary practice to present a historical perspective on the connections between sound and smell.

CLASS 1: The History of Scent and Music - 8/23 in person

CLASS 2: Contemporary Practices - 9/6 in person

Topics covered:

+ A Brief Postmodern History of Scent & Music, beginning with Septimus Piesse and synaesthetic metaphor going through Harry Revel, Sadakichi Hartmann, Brian Eno, and songs about scent

+ Phenomenology in art, what connects our ears and noses.

+ How perfumes are inspired by music from DS&Durga’s Debaser to Margiela’s Music Festival to Jazmin Saraï's Otis & Me (and perfume mixtapes) to Binaurale

+ Pop music and scent: From Cher to J.Lo to Britney Spears to Ariana Grande

+ A survey of the immersive practitioners of Scent & Music, from the San Francisco movement to Holynose to Geza Schön for Unsound Festival to Nose Music, and musical incursions into scent from Jónsi to Leo Crabtree to Oval

Take-Aways:
+ An understanding of the intersection of scent and sound

+ The opportunity to smell scent / sound projects+ A historical perspective on how scent and sound dovetail+ A path for exploration between scent and music

Important notes

Registration Required:

This is a two-part class, that takes place on 8/23 and 9/6 at the Institute for Art and Olfaction in Los Angeles. Registration grants entrance to both events.

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.

Please review our cancellation policy before registration.

Materials:

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

ABOUT MAXWELL WILLIAMS

Maxwell Williams/UFO Parfums is a perfumer, olfactory artist, researcher, DJ/producer, and writer based in Los Angeles. They have held solo exhibitions and performances at the Institute for Art and Olfaction, Los Angeles; Olfactory Art Keller, New York; Galerie de Thorigny, Paris; SEASON, Seattle; and the Experimental Scent Summit, London. As Maxwell UFO and their various alter-egos (notably Eau and Soft Wind), Williams has been a resident at Lash, General Lee's, and the Friend in Los Angeles. They've DJ'd at Amankila in Bali, Potato Head in Singapore, FAUST in Paris, 1720 in Los Angeles, the Ace Hotel in Palm Springs, W Hotels Spa and Resort in Vieques Puerto Rico, Paul & Andre's in Hollywood, Château Shatto gallery in Los Angeles, sharing a flyer with horsegiirL, VTSS, X-Club, DJ Assault, Matthew Dear, DJ Python, Heidi Lawden, Nicolas Jaar, Charlie Soul Clap, Bitter Babe, and more. Their UFO Parfums / Scent Rave nights have become something of a blueprint for scent incursions in nightclub spaces. As a perfumer, they have collaborated with musical entities like DJ Python, Carolyn Pennypacker Riggs, Acid Camp, One Child Policy, Reggie Watts, and Fast at Work. They sit on the board of the Institute for Art and Olfaction.

CANCELLATION POLICY!

When we host a class or workshop, we often order the materials to be used in the class well in advance, based on how many people have signed up (and padding a bit for safety). We also use class proceeds to pay our teachers. Although we realize that life has a funny way of getting in the way of the best laid plans, as a small non-profit we cannot afford to carry the burden of lost proceeds and materials.

With that in mind, here is our refund policy:

– Cancellation with refund or credit requests made 2 weeks or more (14 days) before the scheduled class will be honored with gusto! We’ll miss you, but will 100% refund your spot, or give you credit for another class.

– Refunds or class credits requested less than 14 days before the scheduled session or after the class has happened: refunds will not be granted. The exception to this, of course, is if you have been exposed to Covid-19, or are feeling symptoms yourself.

- Event tickets are non-transferable.

Thank you!

Host or Publisher The Institute for Art and Olfaction