ANDY WEBSTER
In 1965, Gene and Jo Ann Bernofsky, along with Clark Richet, established 'Drop City' near Trinidad, Colorado. As University of Kansas graduates, they sought to create a communal space free from mainstream hierarchies. Their vision was an environmental research centre and a collaborative haven for artists, inventors, and free-thinkers—whom they called 'Droppers'. Gene Bernofsky remarked, "In the old days, it was the Gold Rush that brought people together, but now people come together looking for the true life." For the Droppers, this 'true life' meant non-hierarchical living and open idea-sharing.
This project aimed to reconsider the enduring relevance of the Droppers' ideals. The goal was to explore what a 'true life' might mean today and if it could inspire new modes of thinking and acting. The original Droppers' primary creative output was constructing buildings inspired by Buckminster Fuller's geodesic designs. However, their approach was more DIY and improvised, using salvaged materials like car parts and waste timber. Working with collaborator Darren Ray, we replicated this process, building a dome using salvaged materials and collective labour. The aim was to use this architectural intervention as a catalyst for reimagining the 'true life' concept and creating a common space.
The dome was built inside an old schoolroom, and the juxtaposition of a folly-like structure within this setting added an element of playful absurdity to the project. The dome became a social environment for 'drop-in' events, including performances, readings, music, and cooking. These activities practically explored ideas about collaboration, collectivity, and counter-culture, all while reflecting on the significance of replicating historical structures and events.
There were contributions from artists, writers, poets, and musicians including Tom Buchanan, Anna Best, Neil Chapman, Paul Farmer, Gillian Wylde, Tom Stockley, Juliet Walshe, Nicole White, Stuart Blackmore, Simon Lee Dicker, Sara Bowler, Andy Webster, Maddie Broad, Darren Ray, Martin Dodridge, Clare Thornton, and Keiken Collective.
The project was developed with the support of Simon Lee Dicker for the OSR Project Space in West Coker, Somerset, UK [2016].