Communication technologies are crucial for the organizing of care, resistance, and community connection. They are also hyper regulated, corporatized, centralized, surveilled, and extractive. This workshop explores alternative communication protocols and community generated mesh networks. With an introductory lecture and hands-on demonstration, participants will learn about LoRa (Long Range) Radio devices instancing Meshtastic. Meshtastic is “An open source, off-grid, decentralized, mesh network built to run on affordable, low-power devices.” Utilizing an unregulated radio bandwidth, it allows for encrypted peer-to-peer messaging independent of cellular or broadband networks. This technology has potential as a tool of counter-surveillance, emergency preparedness, connectivity in absence of networks or during disruptions to networks, and is a fun way to learn more about communications technology and autonomous infrastructure. Devices being demonstrated will include LoRa radios such as Heltec LoRa32, Lilygo T-Deck and SenseCAP Card Tracker T1000-E. You are not required to bring anything to this workshop. If you already have a LoRa radio, you are invited to bring it along. If you would like to purchase a radio prior to the workshop, options are outlined on the meshtastic website. Look for devices that operate on the 915 MHz frequency band for use in the USA. Your radio can be flashed with the Meshtastic firmware during the workshop. Bring a computer and USB-C cable if you want to try out the Meshtastic webflasher.
Project support provided by The Open Fund, through the Poor Farm with funding from The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts and Ruth Foundation for the Arts.
ABOUT NAT DECKER:
Nat Decker is a Los Angeles-based artist working across digital media, sculpture, and performance. Disability is the lens through which they explore embodiment, virtuality, alienation, and liberatory networks. Their practice critically engages technology as both an assistive device and apparatus of oppression. Presently they are experimenting with autonomous internet infrastructure, researching simulation, and making 3D computer graphics. Nat is a 2026 United States Artists Fellow, LACE Lightning Fund grantee (with the collective Secret Server Club), 2025 Supercollider SciArt Ambassador Fellow, 2024 Eyebeam Democracy Machine Fellow (with the collective Cripping_CG), Y10 member of NEW INC, 2024 Processing Foundation Mentor and 2023 Fellow, 2024 Coaxial resident, 2024 fellow at the Decentralized web camp, 2023 resident at Latitude Chicago, 2023 Leonardo CripTech Metaverse Lab Fellow, and 2021 resident and current staff of ACRE Residency. They have exhibited work and delivered talks internationally.