Light in the Dark: Scrollathon

The Ulrich Museum of Art hosted brothers Steven and William Ladd’s Scrollathon® Thursday, Oct. 2 in a hands-on, collaborative art experience that allowed participants to connect through art and authentic sharing.

According to Scrollathon.org, “The National Scrollathon will bring together the creative expressions of over 250,000 people from all over the country in a spectacular, collaborative, multidimensional display of American unity in the nation’s capital. Uniting America for the Semiquincentennial in summer 2026 to an audience of over 2 million visitors.”

The energy and dynamism that the artists bring is backed by the love, support and dedication of friends and family. This team demonstrated the essence that they invite participants to look for in themselves: authenticity. They live by and encourage others to:

1. Spend your life doing what you love.
2. Be focused and disciplined.
3. Collaborate.

Their authenticity came through in Steven’s handmade clothes, their parents helping glue scrolls with them for the piece and the depth of flow that is established from 20 years of dedicated practice doing Scrollathon events for healing.

During most events, participants create two scrolls of rolled fiber strapping. A large part of that is listening within while creating the first scroll, naming it and then sharing its story with the group. Through sharing this personal experience, others are able to connect with each speaker and deeper to the meaning of their own scroll.

Director Andre Robert Lee had an effortless way of connecting with participants to gently encourage them to share the hidden message wound in their personal piece. There were stories of remembering loved ones, pets and deities. Many people scrolled a message reminding themselves of an inner peace, strength or groundedness that they could draw upon later when needed.

‘Light in the Dark’ is the title my scroll received. Thinking about how this little scroll was going to be a tiny piece hanging in the Kennedy Center, with millions of observers who may be feeling the pressing sensation of darkness around them, light wanted to be shared there.

Often pressures from perceived threats are the most common, but many people face physical threats daily as well. Funding suddenly gets cut because of changing agendas, media personnel try to tread a tight line to keep their press clearance, while others face weapons on the street. Problems like these feel the same as college students trying to keep scholarships, employees treading a line about what to post on social media and those going home to domestic abuse each day.

What is hard to remember or find during these times is the light within all of that darkness. Often life itself seems to get swallowed up in pain, fear or coping tactics to deal with it. Still, there is hope.

The three principles that the Ladd brothers shared point people back to that light. By doing what a person loves doing, they are going to feel that love again and likely prosper. By focusing and being disciplined, anyone can change circumstances, perspectives and more than can be imagined. In collaborating, deep human connections can be made, authentic stories can be shared and healing can happen like it did this day.

The national exhibition will contain pieces made by communities like ours from all 50 states, five inhabited territories and the District of Columbia as the America’s cultural project for its 250^th birthday. The light that my community, teachers and mates have shared are now a part of that great reminder of unity. Video and images of all that we and others shared can be found there or at Scrollathon.org.

Thank you all for helping me remember the light as well.