Steven and William Ladd’s sister, Bee Ladd, a teacher at PS 58 in Brooklyn, affectionately referred to her 4th and 5th grade special education classes as “The 4/5’s” in an effort to destigmatize them. Throughout 2010, Steven and William engaged in Scrollathons and studio visits with her class. The Invisible Dog, an art center close to the school, became the serendipitous catalyst to Scrollathon’s expansion by generously donating thousands of rolls of trimming—the ideal materials for creating scrolls!

The Ladds decided to initiate an all-school project at PS 58, known as the “Heart Scrollathon,” from January 5 to 15, 2010, with “The 4/5’s” serving as assistants. Witnessing those students take on the role of experts within the school community was a remarkable experience. Every student began with the process of making their own unique scroll, which they kept as a personal artifact.

Students then came together in a tiered collaboration process:

First-graders sketched scroll designs inspired by the concept of “heart.” 

Second-graders traced these sketches with tissue paper and added ink by using markers. 

Third-graders prepared belt trimmings for the scrolls by cutting and tying them into knots. 

Fourth-graders rolled the scrolls using the prepared trimmings. 

Fifth-graders embellished the scrolls by adorning them with beads attached to pins.