Art&&Code: Transmissions — Workshops & Events
Art&&Code returns September 19–20 with Transmissions, a two-day exploration of radio as a creative medium through hands-on workshops, artist-led learning, and public conversation. This year's edition focuses on Transmission Arts, an interdisciplinary field that uses radio frequency transmission and reception as artistic media, bringing together art, science, communication, and experimentation through the invisible electromagnetic spectrum that surrounds us.
All workshops and events will take place at the Frank-Ratchye STUDIO for Creative Inquiry at Carnegie Mellon University. The space is wheelchair accessible and there's ample access to all gender restrooms. Please be in touch should you need accommodations to attend that have not been listed.
Space is limited for the Antenna Building Workshop, Radio Direction Finding, and Meshtastic Node & Sensor Building Workshop, and advance RSVP is required. The Open Studio and Closing Panel Discussion are free and open to all, no RSVP is required. All events are free, all food is free. If you want to pay please donate to the STUDIO to keep future events open and free to all.
All Weekend Long
Throughout the weekend, radio artist and former STUDIO guest lecturer Lorelei d'Andriole will be recording and producing a radio-work of the weekend's activities. You may recognize Lorelei's voice from the experimental radio program The Test of Lime with Jake Jacobs, which aired on KRUI 89.7 FM from 2019–2021.
Following Art&&Code: Transmissions, the completed radio work will be broadcast over the airwaves and shared online. Participants are invited to engage (or not) as Lorelei documents the conversations, sounds, and experiences that unfold throughout the weekend.
Antenna Building Workshop
Saturday, September 19th
10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Led by Heidi Neilson
Build and learn to use a custom Yagi antenna with artist Heidi Neilson. Participants will construct their own directional antenna and learn to use Software Defined Radio (SDR) to access radio transmissions on a computer. Everyone will leave with a handmade antenna and an SDR to continue experimenting at home. Lunch will be provided.
Please note space is limited to 15 participants and we may not be able to accommodate all respondents. Your participation is not confirmed until you receive confirmation from us. Thank you for understanding.
Radio Direction Finding
Saturday, September 19th
3:30 PM – 6:30 PM
Led by Tom Zajdel
Put your new antenna to work in this hands-on transmitter hunt. Learn the fundamentals of radio direction finding by tracking hidden radio transmitters in the field. Participants from the Antenna Building Workshop are especially encouraged to attend both sessions to immediately apply what they've built. Some extra antennas will be available to those that did not build their own.
Please note that this will take place outside and require physical navigation of the campus to search for a small object.
Please note space is limited to 15 participants and we may not be able to accommodate all respondents. Your participation is not confirmed until you receive confirmation from us. Thank you for understanding.
Meshtastic Node & Sensor Building Workshop
Sunday, September 20th
10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Led by Danielle McGuire and Grey Fox
Learn the fundamentals of Meshtastic by building your own wireless mesh networking node and telemetry sensor with local experts from Protomesh Collective and Hackers Guild Pittsburgh. All participants will receive a free Meshtastic node and telemetry sensor to take home. Lunch will be provided following the workshop.
Please note space is limited to 25 participants and we may not be able to accommodate all respondents. Your participation is not confirmed until you receive confirmation from us. Thank you for understanding.
Open Studio: Transmission Arts
Sunday, September 20th
1:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Facilitated by workshop leaders and local radio community members
Continue experimenting, collaborating, and exploring in this open studio session. Test your antennas and mesh nodes, chase satellites, connect with local amateur radio clubs, and dive deeper into the tools and techniques introduced throughout the weekend. Open to all. Drop in for 15 mins or stay for the panel discussion!
No RSVP required.
Closing Performance, Artist Talk & Panel Discussion
Sunday, September 20th
5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Featuring: Anna Friz, Bianca Felix Biberaj, Heidi Neilson, Tom Zajdel, Danielle McGuire, Grey Fox, and Lorelei d'Andriole
Close the weekend with a live performance by artist Anna Friz, followed by a presentation from Bianca Felix Biberaj, Co-Director of Wave Farm, introducing the organization's mission to support and advance Transmission Arts. The evening concludes with an open discussion and Q&A led by Lorelei d'Andriole, bringing together workshop leaders and guest artists to reflect on the weekend's activities and explore emerging practices in radio, wireless networks, and experimental communication.
No RSVP required.
Please direct questions to studio-info@andrew.cmu.edu.
