This week I have been contemplating a few logistical issues for presentation in April. I have been a little worried with how the show is going to go with such small pieces amongst so many large pieces and also how to get viewers to experience my pieces fully, being able to pick them up, open them, and smell them, without having to worry about people stealing them. Some possible ideas I have had about viewers being able to experience the pieces is to have each piece pinned down but in a way so that the lockets can still be opened and smelled. Another idea was to attach small clear wires to each piece so that you can pick up the pieces but they can only go so far. I like the first idea because as some have pointed out, by keeping the pieces in place there will be a much smaller chance of the pieces getting damaged.

This week I have also been trying to type out my memories in a more simplistic, intriguing read. I am trying to write each memory completely but in less than 6 lines so that during the show, viewers will not be overwhelmed with text to the point that they will not want to read the stories that relate to each piece and therefore miss some of the meaning behind each piece.

Lastly, trying to obtain the smells for each piece and develop scents that will last has been quite difficult, but I did have a bit of a break through this week. I spent a lot of my studio time searching for smells, visiting spice shops and tea places looking for a smells that would work with each of my pieces. I did happen to come upon a few teas and an essential oil that I believe if mixed together right will result in a freshly cut grass smell. I also found powdered cheese that should work for one of the scents and the smell of a dreamsicle. I am pretty excited to start mixing these smells as I continue working on writing out the memories, creating the lockets and discovering how to use a letter press. Wish me luck as my schedule starts to fill with all these tasks.

2nd semester

So it has been a little bit of a struggle getting back in to the working mode that I was in before, but I am getting there, slowly but surely. Over break I began thinking about more lockets that I want to do and my next one I have begun working on is going to be a suitcase filled with the smell of a very strong french cheese:

I believe I was about 11 years old and my family was taking a trip to France to go sailing. We were flying standby and by some fortunate stroke of luck, me and my little brother were able to sit together in first class. The flight went well for the most part, laughing at the people who bounced in there seats during turbulence due to not having a seat belt on, and playing games. At one point, after our meal, the flight attendant came through the aisles and gave us each a cheese platter. All of a sudden, Bud, my little brother, smelled the cheese, turned to the flight attendant and said, " excuse me, but this cheese smells like butthole." I was so mortified and embarrassed but I couldn't stop laughing as the flight attendants eyes grew wide and finally replied, "well I'm sorry sir, is there anything else I can get you?"

When we finally got to France, it turned out that my bag had been lost. I was devastated, but my parents assured me that we would not leave on the sail boat until we got it. I ended up having to wear my 19 year old sisters swimsuit which was way to big for me for a couple of days, but we eventually got my suitcase and started our trip a day late. As bad as it was not having a suitcase for three days in france, I couldn't help but to have fun and laugh every time I thought of the plane ride.