M Dougherty

Odor Organ on view through the rest of the year at New Bedford Art Museum in Gateways to Awareness, a group show exploring memory perception and the five senses. This Thursday, Nov. 9th from 5-7 PM will be an interactive opening reception, floral workshop, film screening, dance performance and more. Hope to see you there!

The Odor Organ is a device that allows individuals to play scents instead of sounds, inspired by the longstanding parallel between scent and sound, and the form of a piano. In addition, is a visual sheet music for this instrument.

Created with scientific engineer, Dan Gross
Accords composed by perfumer, George Tedder
 
Fragrance materials provided by with assistance from Travis Aikman

Feeling truly grateful for the incredible experience performing at , Symphonic Ephemera. The notes of this instrument of scent, the Odor Organ, perfectly harmonized with the vibrant energy of the crowd. It was heartwarming to witness the warm reception and see both familiar and new faces from this wonderful community. Thank you for being a part of this extraordinary journey.

from last week’s journey- stopping to smell the sea and pizza in Mystic

Thank you to the New Bedford Art Museum for hosting me and my art this weekend! I met such warm and wonderful people, and I was delighted to be surrounded by the smell of the sea and the sound of seagulls. I hope to return in the near future.

1. Leonard’s Wharf New Bedford, MA
2. street art in the style of old school sailor tattoos by Tomb Gyer
3. Glass work by Michiko Sakano at New Bedford Art Museum -
4. New Bedford Museum of Glass
5. Pier 3 New Bedford, MA

I've been holding onto this post for far too long, but excited to finally share this work made for my residency at Boston U in April!
I love exploring the nuances of human odor. The Somatic Atlas is an aroma reference kit made in collaboration with Dr. Meg Younger () an assistant professor of biology at Boston University. We created this kit to provide a hands-on and immersive way to study and explore the molecules present in human odors.

Special thanks to for supporting me and this work and to for helping bring this into physical form