Created by artists Neal Wilkinson and Christopher McElroen, Fight for America! is a large-scale participatory art installation that explores the gamification of American democracy through the events of January 6th, 2021.

Developed over two years with the support of former U.S. Capitol Police officers and renowned game designer Alessio Cavatore (Warhammer 40K), the project uses a 20-player tabletop wargame to examine the fine line between patriotism and radicalization, unity and division, and rhetoric and reality.

The installation features a 1:64 scale model of the U.S. Capitol, 10,000 hand-painted 28mm miniatures, and a video component where individuals answer the question “What about America is worth fighting for?” Once daily, the installation is activated through gameplay as up to 20 participants engage in a tabletop wargame while others observe.

By stepping into a reimagined January 6th, participants move from passive observation to active engagement, confronting the tensions between political expression, democratic fragility, and the consequences of a win-at-all-costs mentality. 

Fight for America! uses participatory gameplay as a metaphor for democracy—both require strategy, critical decision-making, and a willingness to act. Just as a game cannot be played from the sidelines, democracy cannot function without participation. The project challenges us to reconsider the narratives that shape our national identity, revealing how shared values can both unite and divide, and underscoring our collective responsibility to defend democracy itself against the forces that seek to undermine it.