Interview: Elizabeth Bayer,
Annandale Art and Textile Center
Cathy Koos
A cheerful blue canopy announces your arrival at the light-filled Annandale Art and Textile Center. Located on Main Street in Annandale, Minnesota, this two-year old weaving atelier in the heart of the lakes region of Minnesota has been attracting attention even after opening during Covid. Annandale is a small community of 3600, swelling to 20,000 in the summer.
According to Elizabeth Bayer, Executive Director, she was “inspired after visiting a similar gallery in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, called Art on 8th.” The nonprofit gallery’s unique mission provides vocational employment opportunities and skills for individuals with alternate learning styles and abilities in a safe and welcoming environment.
Figure 1 courtesy Annandale Art and Textile Center
“Not simply clients, these young adults are employed as weaving interns when they age out of other vocational programs. They receive wages and learn life skills such as the art of conversation and interviewing, in addition to technical skills of design and weaving.”
“After their internship, the weavers can be hired as an employee of the center,” Elizbeth said, “and they fit and thrive as part of the community. They learn to self-advocate and become functionally independent.”
“Right now, in our weavery, we have sixteen looms – mostly Schact Baby Wolf and Norwoods – giving us capacity for six employees and three interns. Recently AATC received a MOHR award as an Outstanding Employer of Peoples with Disabilities – a testament to our weavers and volunteers.”
Figure 2 Apron and Towel Set, C Koos
My son, John, was recently in Annadale for a family reunion and took a walk down Main Street. As he entered the gallery, the first thing he noticed was the vibe. The place was buzzing with energy. One of the weavers had just finished a project and they had an impromptu dance party to celebrate cutting off the loom. Such joy!
AATC is the home of the Heart of the Lakes Weavers, a non-profit vocational weaving program for people with alternate learning styles and abilities.
More than weaving… Jobs with Dignity.