Laure Drogoul preserves the scents experienced in Wave Hill’s gardens in an olfactory installation or “scentorium.” She studied the fragrant flora during periodic visits throughout the spring. From this research, she has transformed the middle gallery into a salon that contains an array of dried plants (such as sweet gum, witch hazel, magnolia, pine, wisteria, juniper, mints, and other spices) suspended from the ceiling, and preserved in jars. Changing specimens are added to the crockpot that simmers with inviting smells. Heavy brown curtains and a soundtrack of parlor music performed by Paul Baroody further enhance the experience. Visitors fill out cards about their own olfactory impressions of public spaces and private memories, contributing to Drogoul’s Olfactory Factory an ongoing investigation of smell. On Sunday, July 9, Wave Hill visitors expanded their olfactory consciousness by participating in her portable outdoor Scent Salon.

Drogoul has earned numerous awards for her installation, performance, video and internet work, including a US Japan Creative Arts Fellowship. She received a Mid-Atlantic Artist as a Catalyst Award to be in-residence at the Pittsburgh Children’s Museum, Pittsburgh, PA; and three Maryland State Individual Artist Awards (1989, 1996 and 2006.) Her Franklin Furnace Archive Artist Award in 2002 launched her portable scentorium project. Drogoul has created Olafactory Factory installations and performances at Gallery Kvdrat, St. Petersburg, Russia; School 33 Art Center, Baltimore, MD; and at The International House of Japan and Design Festa Gallery in Tokyo, Japan. Her work was included in Sculpture at Evergreen 2004, John Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, guest curated by Jennifer McGregor. She earned a BFA from Tyler School of Art, Philadelphia, PA, and MFA from Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, MD. www.olfactoryfactory.org