Nancy Nowacek

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Just Crushing
by WorkingWorking Group, a collaboration with Allison Rowe
2022-2025 






Performance 



Drawing upon the theatrics of Carnivale, the hometown grandiosity of state fairs, and the rich history of destructive art, Just Crushing featured vehicles—each ornately decorated by teens to represent a political issue they care about—slowly annihiliating one another in a winner-take-all battle. In this way, Just Crushing literalized the weaponization of issues and tribal political culture pervading nearly every aspect of life. The project was performed at the Dubuque County Fair in Dubuque, Iowa, July 2025.










Support for this work was provided by Big Field Fund, a program of Public Space One, whose funding was provided by the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts. It was also supported by a grant from the Iowa Arts Council, Made possible by the Iowa Economic Development Authority, Lenoch & Cileck Ace Hardware, and everyone who donated to its crowdfunding campaign
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


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©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.