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I love the smell of gasoline

What does it really mean to sacrifice and to survive? How can we harness our agency and responsibility in a global crisis?

Overhead projection meets performative research essay meets personal narrative as Claren attempts to reconcile her Alberta oil-industry roots with the current environmental emergency. The project was born of a frustration with divisive Canadian politics, rampant hypocrisy, and a lack of team spirit when facing impending doom. It unpacks some of the forces that drive global warming and Western alienation in a personal account of what it is to live in a modern, capitalist environment, be a self-serving organism, and also care about the earth and fellow creature kind. What does it really mean to sacrifice and to survive? How can we harness our agency and responsibility in a global crisis?

Creator, Performer, Co-Director, Projection Designer: Claren Grosz

Co-Director, Production Dramaturge: William Dao

Production Stage Manager: Taylor Young

Lighting Design: Echo Zhou

Composer: Christopher-Elizabeth

Dramaturgical Support/Consultancy: Cherish Violet Blood

Consultant: Michelle Robinson

Special thanks: The production features projected drawings courtesy of the talented Emily Jung. The performer has been styled by Ami Blaxland. I love the smell of gasoline has been developed with dramaturgical support from Andrea Donaldson, Cherish Violet Blood, and Keshia Palm. Premiered in 2023 with Elyse Waugh, Jesse Wabegijig and Stephanie Zeit as projectionists and collaborators and their participation helped shape the visual score of the piece. It was also influenced by the participation of Jay Northcott, Emily Jung, Taylor Young and Lu Linares as projectionists and collaborators during workshopping in 2021.

INSTAGRAM: @pencilkitproductions

FACEBOOK: /PencilKit

TWITTER: @PencilKitProd

All tickets are Pay What You Will (PWYW). The suggested price is $35 but any amount is accepted.