Memory Collectors Storytelling Project

media release: The Bubbler at Madison Public Library is hosting an opening reception on Thursday, September 3, from 4-6pm for a new exhibition opening in the Diane Endres-Ballweg Gallery on the 3rd floor of Central Library.  

Recollection: The Stories That Stay brings together a powerful collection of quilts created by an intergenerational group of women in Madison who call themselves the Memory Collectors Storytelling Project (MCSP). 

Recollection will be the first exhibition in the organization's history to feature work from all MCSP members. 

• One Legacy Quilt: a collaborative piece which features unique painted portraits by member, Alicia Rheal (the Creators Cottage artist-in-residence) who worked with each member to gather significant fabrics, share stories and envision how they want to depict their own living legacy.  
• One Story Quilt: a textile work that typically combines fabric, imagery, and stitching to communicate a personal narrative, memory, or historical event - real or imagined. 

Following the exhibition at Central Library, the intention is that this show will travel to various galleries, community spaces and museums across the Midwest and beyond to be displayed and shared with many audiences.  

"The exhibition invites viewers to slow down, to read, to reflect, and to consider the many ways stories are carried and passed down - from our memories, through the work of our hands, with fabric, and across generations. —

Carlee Latimer, Bubbler program administrator & Memory Collectors member.

The Memory Collectors Storytelling Project formed in 2022 to support the successful aging of Black women by promoting brain health, reducing stress, and building social support systems through the creative arts.  The program is rooted in emerging research, including findings from the Mayo Clinic, that shows engaging in artistic practices like quilting, storytelling, and writing can reduce the risk of cognitive decline (Krell-Roesch, 2022). Although this program was created to service Black women, the MCSP community is open to participants from any race/ethnic background, and the exhibition at Central Library will include work from all 30 members, featuring more than 50 quilts.  

• Run of show: September 3, 2026 - January 31, 2027, Madison Public Library - Central Library, Diane Endres-Ballweg Gallery (3rd Floor), 201 W Mifflin St, Madison, WI 53713 
• Opening Reception Thursday, September 3 | 4-6pm 

The exhibition will be available for viewing during open hours for Central Library except during conflicting program times and private events. Please call ahead to 608-266-6350 before traveling to confirm that the gallery is open for viewing. 

Additional workshops and engagement opportunities will be announced throughout the run of show. Visit madpl.org/recollection to learn more. 

This exhibition is supported by the Madison Public Library Foundation. 

With more than 1.3 million annual visitors across nine library locations each year, Madison Public Library's tradition of promoting education, literacy and community involvement has enriched the City of Madison for 150 years. Visit the library online at www.madisonpubliclibrary.org and @madisonpubliclibrary on Facebook and Instagram.   

The Bubbler's hands-on workshops, performances, and events introduce participants to a variety of local experts who share their talent and passion for art, design, and maker culture. For more information, visit madisonbubbler.org