Northeast News
September 12, 2012 

Kansas City Museum is participating in what has been dubbed a “smell-based urban treasure hunt.”

Hosted by Grand Arts, SmellScape KCK/KCMO is the latest project by Sissel Tolaas, a Berlin-based artist and smell researcher.

Smellscape is a game that invites the public to investigate the smells of Kansas City and win prizes in the process.

To introduce the public to SmellScape, the Kansas City Museum hosted a smell-based walk Sept. 8 in the Scarritt neighborhood with Tolaas and Kansas City writer and artist José Faus leading the way.

SmellScape, which kicked off Sept. 7 and continues through Oct. 31, asks participants to explore Kansas City neighborhoods on foot, taking in the sights and the smells. Their quest is to locate and collect scratch-and-sniff postcards infused with location-specific scents.

SmellScape players should begin at Grand Arts, 1819 Grand Blvd.,  Kansas City, Mo., or at one of six “main posts”, which include the Kansas City Museum, City Market, Kansas City Municipal Court, Kaw Point Park, Bethany Park and KCKPL’s Main Library. Each main post will have a neighborhood map that highlights between one and five “outposts” within walking distance.

Points are earned by collecting scratch-and-sniff cards at each outpost, noting specific smells and taking photos for bonus points. Prizes will be awarded to those who collect at least two cards, and those who collect more than 10 cards will have a chance to win a real golden nose.

For more information, visit www.grandarts.com.