HEIDI NEILSON

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#Radio

I am interested in how, as individuals, we can participate in the detection of the Earth’s atmosphere, space environment and satellites using radio.  This research has been reflected in the following works, including talks, writings, workshops, and art projects.

Writing, presentations & workshops

‘Color in Satellite Imagery: An Artist’s Perspective,’ a talk as part of a panel on History of Art: Nature as Tool and Material, at the Center for Book Arts on February 23, 2018. Examples of color capture and use in satellite images are described with four satellite types and four art projects: Satellite Commemorative Prints with Tiros I (vintage satellites), Details from the Least Popular with Hubble Space Telescope, Beachball Antennas with POES (series) and Go GOES Radiotelescope with GOES (series).

‘Outernet and Beachball Antennas: Individuals Using Space Networks,’ a talk as part of Radical Networks, in partnership with Eyebeam, November 5, 2016. How individuals use two satellite systems in the projects Outernet Library Branch – Wave Farm and Beachball Antennas.

‘Space Transmissions’ radio program, WGXC 90.7 FM, Wave Farm, Acra, NY, 2014. 

Writings

Outernet

“Beachball Antennas Project,” QST, March 2017, American Radio Relay League—the National Association for Amateur Radio, Newington, CT

“Space Park Research Report,” Provisional Research Journal, Volume 1/4 ‘The Case for Space: Reviving Cosmic Conscience,’ Spring 2013

Workshops

Field Day

Software-defined Radio for Artists [here]

Transmitter Hunt [here]

FM Antenna Building [here]

Works using radio transmissions

Here GOES Radiotelescope, 2020-now. Ground station at Wave Farm, co-operated with Harry Dove-Robinson
Remote Magnetometer, 2022. Sound instrument based on a scientific instrument on a weather satellite
Space Weather Instrument Ensemble Space Weather Instrument Ensemble, 2022. Replicas of satellite instruments play live data as sound
Sonic Planetarium: Satellite Pipes, 2018 & 2019. Sound installation at Tufts University atrium
Go GOES Radiotelescope, 2017. Viewers in line with NOAA geostationary satellite see full disk of Earth
Sonic Planetarium, 2017-present. Sound installation, audio model of the stuff in earth’s orbit, in real time
Beachball Antennas, 2016. Site-specific radio reception on Southern Florida beaches
Southern Florida Beachball Antenna Archive, 2017, book containing images received using beachball antennas
Outernet Library Branch - Wave Farm is an Outernet receiving station operating on the grounds of Wave Farm 2016 - 2018
YOU ARE HERE, 2015. Book containing image transmissions received in Yukon Territory, Canada, from weather satellites
Faxes from Space, 2014. Book following the build of an antenna used for receiving images from NOAA satellites
Space Transmissions, 2014. A 2-hour radio program concerning transmissions from spacecraft
Conjuring the Northern Lights, 2014. Experimental video sketch made while anticipating the aurora borealis
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