Northeast News
September 6, 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.

This Saturday, a smell-based walk will be held in the Scarritt neighborhood with Tolaas and Kansas City writer and artist José Faus beginning at 3 p.m. Those interested in participating in the walk should meet at the Museum, 3218 Gladstone Blvd., Kansas City, Mo. A main project map on the Museum’s grounds will offer game instructions and dispense free scratch-and-sniff postcards that also serve as game pieces. Printed takeaway maps will also be available at the Museum Visitor Center.

For SmellScape, which begins Sept. 7 and continues through Oct. 31, participants will be asked to explore downtown 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.

SmellScape participants will be asked to collect a smell card at each outpost, noting specific smells they detect and proceed to other outposts for more cards. For bonus points, players can snap photos along their journeys and add them to the game.

Points are scored through the number of cards collected, smells noted and submitted photos. The more main posts and outposts a player visits, them more points he or she scores.

iPhone users can download the SmellScape App beginning Sept. 7 to “check in” at outposts and update scores automatically. App users can also access leader boards, upload photos and tag discoveries on facebook. To download the App, visit bit.ly/NmpWx7.

Those not using an iPhone can turn in their cards and notes to Grand Arts, the game’s hub and home base, to tally the points.

Those who collect at least two different smell cards will receive a limited edition, complete box set of SmellScape postcards at Grand Arts.

Players who collected more than 10 cars will have a chance to win a real Golden Nose. Select outpost locations will also randomly distribute prizes from SmellScape partner businesses.

In addition, players who visit Grand Arts will be able to experiment with smell-mixing in the laboratory and view their fellow game players’ progress on a live map.

For more information, visit www.grandarts.com.