Way Station Warming House is a temporary cafe and transit shelter at a light rail station, giving visitors to the Minnesota winter a place to warm themselves and enjoy the diverse culture and rich hospitality of our state. Way Station Warming House transforms a standard construction trailer into a cafe that serves free hot drinks in the tradition of Somali Community. Teahouse guests, whether festival-goers or light rail passengers, enter to find a rich and warm environment for meeting fellow travelers and Minnesota residents. When the teahouse is open, it will present regular programming by the Somali Museum of Minnesota, including storytelling, poetry, and music. The nearby Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge will teach about migratory birds, navigation by stars, and our rivers. Ceramic artist Anna Metcalfe has also created a limited edition of handmade ceramic cups that will be sold as fundraiser for the Somali Museum of Minnesota. Way Station Warming House is a celebration of the people moving to and through Minnesota, the way our lives are all warmed by our neighbors, and the spirit of giving that we encounter every day.
Plus/And is a collaboration between artists Amanda Lovelee and Emily Stover, designing tools and spaces that drive culture and behavior to adapt to our evolving world. Our projects are sustainable, joyful, art-based experiments with measurable outcomes, focused on creating change wherever we go.
Warm Welcome Teahouse is part of Illuminate South Loop, a three-day event at Bloomington Central Park (8100 33rd Avenue South) in Bloomington’s South Loop District from February 1 – 3, 2018. This creative placemaking initiative focuses on leveraging the power of the arts, culture and creativity to engage the community.