Juicy Fruit is more than a stick of gum. It is a sensory memory.
The packaging, the flavor, the act of opening the wrapper, and the first burst of sweetness can bring back an entire period of life.
Gum was often part of childhood rituals—after school, at the store, during games, on road trips, or as a small reward.
American Material Memory is particularly powerful when an object engages more than sight. Some objects can bring back a memory through taste and smell almost as quickly as through recognition.
From the Artist:
It was almost Christmas, and I wanted to share with everyone a drawing I was working on at the time. It was very special to me because anytime I smell Juicy Fruit gum, I have the most beautiful memories of my Grandma Carter.
I cannot remember a time that she didn’t have a pack of Juicy Fruit in her purse. In fact, every time she'd open it to pay for something, she’d first pull out her little white handkerchief and then you’d instantly smell Juicy Fruit gum.
What a wonderful smell — Juicy Fruit. It’s what grandmas smell like. =-)
Juicy Fruit is more than a stick of gum. It is a sensory memory.
The packaging, the flavor, the act of opening the wrapper, and the first burst of sweetness can bring back an entire period of life.
Gum was often part of childhood rituals—after school, at the store, during games, on road trips, or as a small reward.
American Material Memory is particularly powerful when an object engages more than sight. Some objects can bring back a memory through taste and smell almost as quickly as through recognition.
From the Artist:
It was almost Christmas, and I wanted to share with everyone a drawing I was working on at the time. It was very special to me because anytime I smell Juicy Fruit gum, I have the most beautiful memories of my Grandma Carter.
I cannot remember a time that she didn’t have a pack of Juicy Fruit in her purse. In fact, every time she'd open it to pay for something, she’d first pull out her little white handkerchief and then you’d instantly smell Juicy Fruit gum.
What a wonderful smell — Juicy Fruit. It’s what grandmas smell like. =-)
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