Collaborators
Lauren Dunbar (Pennsylvania)
Ken Ballard (Washington)
Peg Henderson (California)
Karen Zojaji (California)
Jean Ellisen (California)
Delivery Sequence
Lauren sends to Ken
Ken sends to Peg
Peg sends to Karen
Karen sends to Jean
Jean sends to Lauren
PROGRESS GALLERY
Karen Zojaji, May 9, 2026
This collage began with a question: Do we recognize acts of moral courage in ordinary life—the people who refuse unlawful directives, who defend the vulnerable, who place livelihood or safety on the line because something inside them insists there are lines one should not cross? Can we see the history being made at this moment and the movements welling up right now? My working title for the project was Moral Courage. I was thinking about acts spanning from the corridors of power to the streets, from high-ranking government and military personnel to ordinary people standing up to prevent harm. I wanted to honor their commitment to human and environmental rights, choosing principle over comfort and conscience over ease.
What drew me so deeply to the collaborative process was the hope that five people, each carrying different histories and ways of seeing the world, might widen the lens on this landscape of courage beyond what any one person could create alone. When the piece returned to me at the end of the cycle, I was surprised by the limited variety of items it contained. This became a call to action, deepening my commitment to highlight actions in our midst. For months I had been collecting headlines, photographs, and fragments of speech documenting acts of moral clarity taking place amid a blizzard of uncertainty and fear.
While vivid colors and human images gather toward its center, the black-and-white headlines form a border around the piece. I came to think of that border as a barrier we begin to build within ourselves in an age of endless doomscrolling. This constant onslaught of crisis could easily become a whiteout as the sheer volume of news obscures even the acts of bravery those headlines contain. Will that storm of overwhelm accumulate and blind us to the urgent lessons of this moment? Or will we use these as building blocks or a framework?
Shortly before the project deadline, a friend mentioned a recent interview with Angela Davis that had deeply inspired her. Listening to a replay of that interview led me to rework the entire piece. The paraphrased quote, “Hope lives in action,” emerged from that conversation and became fundamental to the piece. Around the border of the 3-D picture frame I included more of Ms. Davis’s wisdom: “Movements are not born fully formed. They grow and develop over time. They are built through…” The words, “Reflection,” “Struggle,” and “Collective Effort” hang within the grasp of the central figure.
The elements break into three dimensions at the top of the piece to reinforce that the actions of both the collective and the individual are essential for the lifting up, for the “Together, we rise!” Perhaps we are neither flat nor confined nor powerless. The Constitution and Bill of Rights sit in an element that unexpectedly came to resemble a small boat, a fitting reminder that we are all in the same boat. The woman in the upper corner of the collage is in the process of breaking out of the 2-D as well. Will she (will WE?) reach out and claim the power of the Reflection, Struggle, and Collective Action?
It’s my hope that the collage is a reminder to remain vigilant for the courage alive among us, a reminder not only to witness, but to carry it forward in our own lives.
Peg Henderson, March 16, 2026
Completed collage delivered.
March 12, 2026—Peg Henderson’s completed collage has arrived at headquarters.
Karen Zojaji, March 10, 2026
Here are some pictures of my final version of the Moral Courage collage that I turned into Marty last Friday—Have included two pictures zooming in on the frame so the words around the edges of it are legible. This is a quote from Angela Davis (I credited her, but the name is slightly obscured under the banner that says “hope lives in action”
The frame around the whole poster board is comprised of headlines.
Was a fun project, though I had to limit the scope to US in 2025, 2026. Even so., I may have exceeded the size limitation.. fingers crossed that Marty will have the space to include it in the gallery show🙏🤞🥰
March 6, 2026—Karen Zojaji’s completed collage has arrived at headquarters.
March 5, 2026—Lauren Dunbar’s completed collage has arrived at headquarters.
Lauren Dunbar, February 28, 2026
Sending my completed collage in.
January 29, 2026—Jean Ellisen’s completed collage has arrived at headquarters.
Peg Henderson, January 28, 2026
I’m posting before and after shots. Overall I thought it was a bit flat and disjointed so I added the outlines for some contrast and the orange “source” with waves to unify it. The message is important and needs to have impact.
Handing off to the originator, Karen, tomorrow.
Karen, January 22, 2026
I revised Jean’s collage again after submitting the photo of what i thought would be my final version of additions/changes. Here is the current version I’m sending along to Jean. Will take to her on Saturday (1/24). Excited for the collages to be coming full circle!
Karen, January 21, 2026
Will drop this to Jean tomorrow. As always I added everything with blue painters tape, that’s easy to remove should anything not fit the originator’s aesthetic or seem to fit better in a different spot. Excited to be at the stage of the project and can’t wait to receive my collage back too! 😊
Peg Henderson, Jan 19, 2026 @ 5:19 PM
I added some falling gold to Jean’s collage. I’ll send it off tomorrow to Karen.
I’m attaching 2 photos—before and after the gold.
Lauren Dunbar, December 30, 2025
I mailed Ken’s collage back to him today. It was getting pretty crowded.
Lauren Dunbar, December 18, 2025
Added to Karen’s collage and mailed to Ken today. Added to Peg’s collage and mailed to Ken today.
Karen Zojaji, November 28, 2025
Added elements to Lauren’s collage. Everything is tacked down with blue painters tape so it’s easy to move or remove if it doesn’t fit the character of the piece. Had a lot of fun with this one!
Will be delivering it within the week to Jean. 😊
Peg Henderson, November 25, 2025
I’m sending Lauren’s collage on to Karen today. These photos show Ken’s additions and mine.
Karen Zojaji, November 16, 2025
Had a great time adding to Ken’s collage!
Will be sending this along tomorrow.
Peg Henderson, November 3, 2025
Made these additions to Ken’s collage and will send it on tomorrow (Nov 4).
Lauren Dunbar, October 25, 2025
I am ready to send off Jean’s collage to Ken on Monday.
Karen Zojaji, October 4, 2025
Added to Peg’s collage and will send off this week 💐
Peg Henderson, September 24, 2025
I’ll be sending out this “starter collage” tomorrow. Looking forward to seeing what we do together!
Karen Zojaji, September 12, 2025
Excited to be sending this out today.
Lauren Dunbar, September 8, 2025
Today I received the collage from Jean and I mailed my Where Are You Going collage to Ken.
