Just Crushing
2022-ongoing
Participatory performance
All teen participants kept sketchbooks during Art & Civics camp
JUST CRUSHING: A Political Demolition Derby is a public artwork that merges creative expression with civic engagement. Situated in Iowa City, this socially-engaged project brings together teens from diverse backgrounds to explore pressing political issues through art and collaboration. Participants engage in a two-week Art & Civics Camp, where they design and transform demolition derby cars into vibrant representations of key societal topics. Culminating in a civic-themed demolition derby at the Muscatine County Fair, the teens' cars compete in a dramatic spectacle that mirrors the dynamics of contemporary American politics. By emphasizing dialogue, compromise, and artistic expression, JUST CRUSHING aims to inspire democratic participation among teens and foster new ways for adults to engage with divisive issues. This project embodies the chaos, absurdity, and emotional release of destruction while creating a platform for reflection, collaboration, and new pathways to political discourse.
At left are images from the 2024 project pilot.
Local politicians Adam Zabner and Dana Dominguez spoke with the teens about politics and how young people inform their platforms.
Teens prototyped the design of the car at full scale.
Teens worked together to realize their co-created design.
The final design of CENSORSHIP: driver side
The final design of CENSORSHIP: passenger side