Collage x Five: Up Close and Personal

Exhibition showcasing the creative storytelling of five women artists:

Ann Engelman, Dawn Hunter, Sally Koehler, Allison Russo, and Della Wells

June 5 to June 29, 2025

Collage x Five: Up Close and Personal Exhibition Opens June 5

  • Reception: Sunday, June 8, 1-4pm.

  • Book Signing: Thursday, June 12, 1-4pm, The Lavender Lady by Dawn Hunter

  • Free Collage Card Making Workshops:

    • Friday, June 20, 1-3pm and

    • Thursday, June 26, 1-3pm.

The Whitewater Arts Alliance is proud to present Collage x Five: Up Close and Personal, a new exhibition showcasing the creative storytelling of five women artists: Ann Engelman, Dawn Hunter, Sally Koehler, Allison Russo, and Della Wells. The show will be on display from June 5 to June 29, 2025, at the Whitewater Cultural Arts Center, located at 402 W. Main Street in Whitewater.

Led by acclaimed artist and teacher Della Wells-whose work is featured in the collections of the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture, the Milwaukee Art Museum, and the American Folk Art Museum — the group explores personal stories and shared experiences through the art of collage. Wells explains, “I am a storyteller and an artist. I like to think of myself as an ‘arts provocateur.’ In my work, women guard their own fears and truths. They are not going to let anyone twist them into stereotypes.”

Ann Engelman creates vivid art through stitched Memory Cloths and collage, inspired by global storytelling traditions such as South Africa’s Amazwi Abesifazane project. Engelman believes, “Storytelling provides context of life experiences. My artistic expressions help me reflect.” Her work captures the emotional landscape of memory, tradition, and resilience.

Dawn Hunter, a founding member and first president of the Whitewater Arts Alliance, brings decades of leadership and creativity to the exhibition. Hunter has earned multiple Wisconsin Regional Arts Program awards and recently published her children's book, The Lavender Lady, in 2025. She shares, “Creative people don’t have a mess — they have ideas lying around everywhere.” Her collage work, like her writing, invites viewers into colorful, imaginative worlds.

Sally Koehler, a Fort Atkinson-based artist with a degree from the University of Wisconsin, combines her background in arts education with her fine art practice. She has participated in national arts training through the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and has continued to expand her collaborative work. Koehler says, “I use texture, color, and patterns to express my vision and gratitude for the rhythms and dance of life,” a spirit that radiates through her collage pieces.

Allison Russo, a former Art Director at Scholastic Inc. and a current Board Member of the Public Art Fund in New York City, draws inspiration from the fleeting beauty of everyday moments. Her collages explore themes of motherhood, time, and transformation. Russo reflects, “Fleeting, precious moments shape my understanding of the world. Learning together with these women has been a gift.”

Throughout the month of June, visitors are invited to participate in a series of special events designed to engage with the artists and the art. An opening reception and artists’ talk will be held on Sunday, June 8, from 1pm-4pm., offering the public an opportunity to meet the artists and hear their stories firsthand. On Thursday, June 12, from 1pm-4pm, Dawn Hunter will host a book signing for her newly published children’s book, The Lavender Lady. In addition, two free collage card-making workshops will be offered on Friday, June 20, and Thursday, June 26, from 1pm-3pm, inviting participants to create their own art inspired by the exhibition.

Admission to the exhibition and all events is free, and everyone is welcome. Light refreshments, including beer and wine, will be served during the opening reception.

Collage x Five: Up Close and Personal offers a vivid and heartfelt glimpse into women’s lived experiences, translated into layered and imaginative works of art. The exhibition promises to be an inspiring celebration of memory, creativity, and community.

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