Visible light is a fairly small portion of the vast electromagnetic spectrum, and the portions of the spectrum that
we can’t see fascinate me. Radio signals are very physical in nature, and constructing antennae is a good exercise
toward interpreting and understanding them. The Octoloop antenna for this exhibit contains a 500 foot length of copper
wire used to receive low frequency radio signals anywhere from 10 to 100 kilometers in length. When lightning strikes it
emits radio signals in this spectrum. The antenna and radio visualization system expand our perception, and allow us to interpret
elements that are otherwise intangible. But to me the visualization process is an inherently abstract challenge. We can’t see
energy in this spectrum, so it is mysterious to imagine what it might look like.
