Art Books Events

Third Annual FRAGments Event

05/04/15 17:57:41 

by: Jodi Battershell

FRAGments 2015, the independent Los Angeles based Artisan Perfume Event and collective, will hold it third annual perfume-as-art celebration of all things olfactory on Saturday, May 30, 2015. Artisan perfumers (defined by FRAGments as "those who conceive, make, bottle and market their own work") will present their work in a gallery setting and sell direct to the public.

FRAGments is a curated event founded in 2013 by Los Angeles perfumer Maggie Mahboubian of Parfums Lalun. The FRAGments series seeks to reveal the potential of a rapidly evolving genre by highlighting exploration and experimentation in artisan perfumery and olfactory art. Fragrantica reported from the premier event in 2013, where we encountered for the first time some exciting new perfumers such asPhoenicia Perfumes and Rising Phoenix and sampled fragrances that would go on to become award-winning bestsellers, such as En Voyage Perfumes' Zelda.

The name "FRAGments" stems from common perfumista slang of referring to a fragrance as a "frag" and recognizes that artisan perfumery is a FRAGrance moveMENT distinct from its commercial roots.

Some exciting new events are planned for this year's event:

• This year's FRAGments event will present the work of three 2015 Institute for Art and Olfaction Award winners: Ellen Covey of Olympic Orchids, whoseWoodcut fragrance was an Artisan category winner; Jessica Hannah of J. Hannah Co., whose collaboration with Canoe, Skive, was an Independent category winner; and Isabelle Michaud of Monsillage, whose Eau de Celeriewas an Artisan category winner.
• Perfumer and writer Dana El Masri, founder and perfumer of Jazmin Saraï and a 2015 Jasmine Literary Award winner will present her perfume collection.
• Daniel Krasofski will exhibit his collection of rare vintage AVEDA Pure-Fumes, considered by many to be forerunners of the natural/artisan fragrance movement that blossomed in the 2000s.
• In addition, FRAGments will present two artists who work with the medium of scent and olfaction: Brian Goeltzenleuchter will exhibit an olfactory art installation and artist Iris Moore, an exhibitor at the 2014 event, will be back in 2015 with new work.
• Perfumer and Wildlife Biologist Dr. Elise Pearlstine, founder of Tambela Natural Perfumes, will open the event with a talk entitled: “The Origins of Floral Fragrance: White Flowers and Moths.”
• Live at the event, the participating perfumers will offer an olfactory twist on a classic Surrealist-art-inspired game called “Exquisite Corpus.” Each perfumer will contribute a note towards the creation of a collective perfume. Samples of the fragrance creation will be available.
• JK DeLapp of Rising Phoenix Perfumery will showcase his custom oud distillations.

“FRAGments is a wonderful opportunity for makers to interact with the public in a
relaxed atmosphere that enhances all of the senses,” says founder and curatorMaggie Mahboubian. “Artisan perfumers have limited distribution and are distinct from their commercial counterparts, focusing more on conceptual and cutting edge compositions that often incorporate rare and unique materials. FRAGments was conceived as a way to make this kind of work available to the public through the celebration of its artistry. It is an event created by an artisan perfumer for artisan perfumers!”

Neutra Office Building, photo: Bruce Boehner

One of the highlights of the FRAGments events is its series of rotating venues that seek to reveal an unknown aspect of Los Angeles. (Our photos from the 2013 event, held at the MorYork Gallery, give an idea of the interesting and artistic venues that showcase the event. 2014 FRAGments was held at the studio of film production artist Bradley Thordarson.)  FRAGments 2015 will be held at mid-century modern architect Richard Neutra's former Silverlake office. Recently converted into a museum and gallery by his son and collarborator, Dion Neutra, who is actively working to preserve this heritage of iconic modern architecture that helped define the character of Los Angeles, the office itself provides a striking, well-lit, modern backdrop for the event. (Learn more about Richard Neutra and his work at www.neutra.org.)

The FRAGments event is free to the public and there will be light refreshments and FRAGtails (fragrant cocktails) served.

This year's participants (the FRAGments 2015 Collective):

Kenneth Cory, On the Nose Fragrances
Ellen Covey, Olympic Orchids
Mesha Munyan, Meshaz Natural Perfumes
JK DeLapp, The Rising Phoenix Perfumery
Iris Moore, Artist
Paul Kiler, PK Perfumes
Laurie Stern, Velvet and Sweet Pea’s Purrfumery
Dana El Masri, Parfums Jazmin Saraï 
Marcus McCoy, House of Orpheus
Heather Kaufman, Jolie Laide Perfume
Lisa Fong, Artemisia Natural Perfume
Elise Pearlstine, Tambela Natural Perfume
Jessica Hannah, J. Hannah Co.
Jeanette Price, Wax Poetic Fragrance
Daniel Krasofski, AVEDA: The Early Pure-Fumes 1986-1996Brian Goeltzenleuchter, Artist
Beckie Sheloske and Katy Knuth, Rebel Intuitive Perfumerie
Isabelle Michaud, Monsillage

FRAGments 2015

Saturday, May 30, 2015

Where: The Neutra Institute Gallery and Museum, 2379 Glendale Blvd, LA, CA 90039
Where:  11am-12pm: Presentation by Dr. Elise Pearlstine
             12pm-6pm: Collective Exhibit and Pop-up Shop

Visit the official FRAGments website for additional details.

Source: FRAGments press release
 

Jodi Battershell(NebraskaLovesScent) is a lifelong Nebraskan who transplanted herself to Philadelphia after 42 years on the Great Plains. An appreciator of fine fragrances since childhood, she tried her hand at natural perfumery and fragrance-mixing for a number of years, ultimately concluding she was better suited to appreciating the fragrance creations of others. She is pleased to finally be putting her English degree to use as a writer and editor for Fragrantica.com.