2% by Joey Rosin

odorous molecules | 50mL | Edition of 1

recreates the perception of a cold glass of milk on a hot summer day

artist statement:

My high school band director, Dr. Brame, had an analogy about musical phrasing that involved a cold glass of milk on a hot summer day. The metaphor isn't particularly important to this work but the idea of a cold glass of milk on a hot summer day is. His analogy always imparted a certain nostalgic, albeit kind of nauseating, appeal to me. This piece captures that fridge fresh glass of milk. It's my olfactive recreation of his memory.

Growing up, there was always a gallon of 2% milk in the fridge for my parents' coffee and my cereal, but we never really drank it. I haven't had a glass of milk in well over 15 years, so I had to revisit some real-deal cow's milk in order to reacquaint myself with its odor. When imagining the smell of milk, I found that I actually think of cream or condensed milk. This isn't that. Real milk is sour, fatty, and really coats the palette when drank, yuck! Before smelling, I'd implore you to imagine the sound of cicadas, the heat of a Midwestern summer sun, and rushing inside to feel the cold kitchen floor before opening the fridge and pouring yourself a tall glass of 2%.