Steven and William Ladd Bring National Scrollathon to LongHouse Reserve

Artists Steven and William Ladd brought their National Scrollathon project to LongHouse Reserve on October 25, inviting members of the East Hampton community to take part in a day of collaborative artmaking workshops.

Participants created individual scrolls using colorful strips of webbing, which will be assembled into a larger permanent artwork representing the East End. The completed piece will join works from all 50 states and U.S. territories in a national installation at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., in 2026, marking the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States.

Throughout the day, the Ladd brothers led four workshops where attendees crafted scrolls to contribute to the collective piece and made additional scrolls to take home. LongHouse’s Scrollathon was underwritten by philanthropists Michele Cohen and Barbara Tober.

The Scrollathon initiative, which the Ladds began in 2006, combines artmaking with community engagement, bringing together participants of all ages and backgrounds. The brothers have led similar projects across the country in partnership with schools, museums and community organizations.

The visit to LongHouse Reserve follows the Ladds’ 2022 debut there of their interactive sculpture “Right Here. Right Now.,” a cedar bead installation that created an immersive pathway experience.

For more information on the National Scrollathon, visit scrollathon.com.