Saturday Science Sparks: Coastal Frequencies
July 25 @ 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Coastal Frequencies: Explore the underwater sonic ecology of North Carolina’s coast!
What does it sound like under the ocean? On Saturday, July 25, join artist Madeleine Popkin in a special Saturday Sparks exploration of underwater sounds recorded off the coast of Beaufort, North Carolina! Madeleine will pair her paintings with visitor listening stations featuring recordings by marine bioacoustics researcher Dr. Shannon Brown. An ambient soundscape, composed of underwater recordings from North Carolina’s coast, will immerse you in a watery world.
You can meet Madeleine in the Gateway Gallery from 1 to 4 p.m. as she presents her project and the power of combining art and science.
All ages welcome. This special program is included in admission.
About the Artist
Madeleine Popkin is an interdisciplinary artist from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, working with painting and sound-based installation. Her practice engages bioacoustic research through the translation of scientific data and field recordings into immersive experiences. She collaborates with bioacoustic researchers to develop works that make human impact on the environment viscerally perceptible. She received a BFA from Cornell University’s College of Architecture, Art, and Planning.
Artist Statement
My work uses painting and sound to translate environmental research into embodied experience. I collaborate with underwater bioacoustic researchers and coastal labs, working directly with recordings produced through site-specific field research. These recordings are not neutral documents; they carry the structure of marine life: communication for navigation, reproduction, socialization, and survival. I examine how human and nonhuman systems overlap and persist over time by working with recordings of coastal environments and anthropogenic noise pollution. I treat this sound data as material that shapes composition, rhythm, and density in painting and corresponding soundscapes, inviting the audience to experience the same coastal environments through sound and image.
MORE is happening at Morehead this year
New for 2026, Saturday Science Sparks offers Morehead guests a closer encounter with current science. Covering topics like astronomy, the physics of juggling, and computer science, this program collaborates with community partners and academic clubs, bringing you up-close experiences in the exciting world of STEAM. Saturday Science Sparks is open to the public and included in admission.