Just Crushing
In process since 2022 


Performance 



Drawing upon the theatrics of Carnivale, the hometown grandiosity of state fairs, and the rich history of destructive art, Just Crushing will feature vehicles—each ornately decorated by teens to represent a political issue they care about—slowly annihiliating one another as two commentators shout their action from competing points of view. In this way, Just Crushing literalizes the weaponization of issues and us-versus-them political culture pervading nearly every aspect of life. The project will be performed in Eastern Iowa, in July 2025.

Project website: https://justcrushing.art/
2023 Pilot prototype, driver side

2023 Pilot prototype, passenger side

2023 teen artist sketchbook
2023 teen artists painting a base layer
2023 teen artist design doc
2023 teen artists and mentors working together


2022 Research

The road to the Muscatine County Fair
Muscatine County Fair Demolition Derby
Muscatine County Fair vibes 2023
Prototyping car design process 2023
©2025 Nancy Nowacek
Nancy Nowacek artist is a research-based artist, designer, and educator working in visual art, public art, social practice, and socially-engaged contexts.