Actual Odor
Two-hour Guerilla Performance -
Reception for Muriel Magenta’s Token City
Arizona State University Art Museum
Tempe, Arizona

For the duration of the opening reception Ellsworth wore a dress soaked in her own urine. For six days prior to the event the dress soaked. On the seventh day the dress was hung out in 110 degree weather to dry. While wearing the cocktail dress at the reception she cooled herself with an accessory fan which was stenciled with the word “actual” on one side and “odor” on the other. Ellsworth mingled casually with other exhibition viewers and for long periods of time sat quietly fanning herself in a close quartered installation space. Other times she positioned herself under hot spot lights in order to generate more heat form her body for the utmost odor. Exhibition visitors clearly caught whiffs of her dress but couldn't determine from where the smell was coming.