Cauleen Smith's Multisensory Homage to Los Angeles in 'The Wanda Coleman Songbook'

In an evocative tribute to Los Angeles, artist Cauleen Smith has combined film, music, and fragrance to craft an immersive experience. Taking inspiration from the city she calls both home and muse, Smith's guerrilla-style filmmaking captures Los Angeles in all its diversity, from its panoramic hilltops to the busy streets. The heartbeat of this project is the late poet Wanda Coleman, whose work served as a guiding force, capturing the spirit and struggles of the city.

An Intertwined Sensory Experience

Smith's film, 'The Wanda Coleman Songbook,' recently debuted in New York, creating a multisensory environment that includes a four-channel video installation. To complement the visual experience, a vinyl EP featuring seven songs provides an auditory interpretation of Coleman's poems. The gallery space is further enhanced with projected shadows reminiscent of L.A.'s urban art and a custom-made scent that evokes Griffith Park's natural fragrance.

A Multifaceted Homage to Los Angeles

Curator Ebony L. Haynes has brought together these elements to explore Smith's complex adoration for Los Angeles—a city facing increased hardships for its residents, particularly within the Black community. Smith, expressive of her simultaneous love and concern for the city, incorporates aspects of its beauty and struggles into her work, achieving a poignant balance that reflects Los Angeles' vibrant contrasts.

From Film to Interdisciplinary Artistry

Cauleen Smith's journey as an artist has taken her from film to an array of artistic mediums, including drawings, textiles, and installations. Since her early days in the industry, Smith has recognized and embedded influential figures into her works, such as Sun Ra and Alice Coltrane. Her creations often pay homage to visionaries, just as her latest work does to Coleman, widely known as L.A.'s 'poet laureate.'

Wanda Coleman: L.A.'s Literary Conscience

Coleman, whose poetry reflects the raw and intimate details of her life as a Black woman in Los Angeles, became an Emmy-winning writer and a fierce literary presence. Smith, although only vaguely aware of Coleman in the '90s, found a deeper immersion in her complete works revealing of both her own past and the city's ongoing narratives. Coleman's intense, charismatic persona and skillful writing give voice to love, fury, and resilience—themes that resonate throughout Smith's film.

Poetic Sympathy and Civic Reflection

In creating 'The Wanda Coleman Songbook,' Smith felt guided by Coleman's perspective, pushing her to capture authentic, unguarded moments of city life. The project, with its richly layered soundscape and powerful visuals, invites viewers to consider Los Angeles through the lens of one of its most emblematic poets. Smith's endeavor exemplifies a loving confrontation with a city characterized by stark political challenges and the warming presence of its people.

film, music, scent