Collaboration with 4th, 6th, and 8th graders

Photo: Andrew Zuckerman

Steven and William Ladd received a prestigious nomination in 2006 to participate in the Smithsonian Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum’s Triennial—an esteemed event that showcases the world’s top design firms. This recognition prompted them to delve into their personal histories and create a work of art titled Terre Du Lac. The piece was inspired by their grandparents’ mobile home, a cherished place where the Ladds spent their family vacations in rural Missouri.

Upon moving to New York in 1999, Steven and William faced financial constraints for about a decade. The cost of materials was prohibitive, leading them to rely on textiles generously provided by their loved ones, including their grandmother. Every scrap of fabric held immense personal value: they were determined to waste nothing. Thus, they developed a three-step process for handling scraps: Scroll, Stack, Shred. Long pieces could be torn into strips and scrolled, while shorter fragments were cut into one-inch squares and stacked. Anything smaller was broken down into threads and shredded. These transformed objects integrated seamlessly into their artworks.

The concept of the scroll was born during a camping trip in upstate New York, where Steven, William, and their childhood friend Angela Veninga— an integral catalyst on their journey—broke down canvas from their grandmother’s collection and spent the weekend rolling–creating!--scrolls.

Angela, an art teacher in St. Louis, reached out to Steven and William, inviting them to collaborate with her students from 4th, 6th, and 8th grades. On April 27, 2006, they brought fabric to the classroom, tore it into strips to make scrolls that became the foundational layer for their artwork at Cooper Hewitt. The experience that day was truly extraordinary, with both the Ladds and the students fully engaged. This experience marked the inception of the Scrollathon, destined to become a significant aspect of their creative process.

Community Group
Hancock Place Middle School, St. Louis, MO

Support
The Hancock Scrollathon and the “Design! Life! Now!” exhibition was made possible with the generous support of the Smithsonian, Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum

Special thanks to Adam Wahler and A2A Graphics, Andrew Zuckerman, Angela Veninga, Barbara Bloemink, Beth Rudin DeWoody, Brooke Hodge, Chris Finlay, Ellen Lupton, and Matilda McQuaid.