Get to know Tara Block, owner and artist of Dame Errant Clay Studio encouraging intentional connection to creativity, self, and community for whole person healing.
Tell us about your business. What do you do?
Dame Errant is a clay studio with the mission to encourage casual connection to creativity as self care as well as using clay as a conduit to ground other teachings and healings.
We have a variety of options that are ever growing.
Open Clay (currently Thursday-Sunday, 12-5) is a space where you can walk in, get your clay kit, sip a cup of tea and play with clay. Students are provided with a short list of clay tips, we do all of the technical work of glazing and firing to keep the focus on creativity and play and less on skill building. After work is fired students are left with a stoneware artifact that can either be entirely functional or an artifact that can be be passed down through the generations, found in the ground a thousand years later, or maybe be a tool of letting go or impermanence.
Our workshops are ever expanding, and incorporate meditation, tarot, magic, medicinal herbal connection and education, or simply just chilling and creating together.
How do you approach your area of expertise that makes you different?
Accessible and as simple as going to a yoga class or drinks with a friend, “Come make something!” Is our motto. It is the simplest and yet the most divine and expansive act to have an idea, and bring it into the physical with your hands. We believe the world would be a much better place if all humans understood their creative and manifestation power and were able to create from a place of peace and true intention.
What drew you to this work?
My life long goal to get back to the creative flow I experienced as a child. I have a background in wellness, yoga, and mysticism which you can find very prevalently in many of our offerings. My approach to creative process is highly influenced by the book “Big Magic”, by Elizebeth Gilbert.
“The guardians of high culture will try to convince you that the arts belong only to a chosen few, but they are wrong and they are also annoying. We are all the chosen few. We are all makers by design.”
“When I refer to “creative living,” I am speaking more broadly. I’m talking about living a life that is driven more strongly by curiosity than by fear.”
“We believe the world would be a much better place if all humans understood their creative and manifestation power and were able to create from a place of peace and true intention.”
Tara Block, Dame Errant Clay
What do you love about your job?
I like to think of myself as a bizarre art teacher from a magical middle school that is built for adults.
Who is a best fit for your services?
Anyone who is looking for something to do. People that are wanting casual access to clay. People that are curious about tarot, magic or herbs.
What results can people see when they work with you? What’s possible?
Playing and creating with clay can help ease anxiety and even assist in regulating our nervous system. Our classroom is crystal gridded and ritually saged, it just feels really good in here. At the end of this self care experience return to pick up a physical object that holds your energy and intention and can be used in daily life!
What do you wish more people understood about what you do?
Our offerings are for all levels, especially people who claim, “they are not creative”, creating is our human birthright and even if all one can think of is attempting to create a copy of their cat, or a simple bowl, that is perfect, that version of the cat will be the only one of its kind, and every choice that is made would be unique to that person.
What’s fascinating you right now?
Even after working with clay for 10 years, I still learn something new everyday.
In what ways do you find yourself working with other health + wellness professionals?
We are not just a clay studio. We have a classroom that seats 35 and love to collaborate!
What does self care look like to you right now?
Finding time for my own creative without connection to outcome.
What do you love about living and working in the Twin Cities?
Our community.
Favorite local restaurants?
Other favorite local businesses in the Twin Cities?
- Romi Apothecary, @Romi_apothecary
- Minneapolis Bouldering Project
- Leap of Faith Life, @leapoffaithlife
- Marissa Martinez Jewlery, @marisamartinezjewlery
- Slow Burn Candles, @slow.burn.mn
What’s your favorite social media platform, and where can people connect with you on social media?
Instagram and Facebook! @DameErrant
How can people work with you?