Get Creative with the Arts at Creation Shop
By Heather Rule
There is a new place in Fergus Falls for people to create, experiment and get their hands dirty. The Creation Shop, a pottery and sculpture workshop, offers classes as well as a retail shop. For Fergus Falls native and artist, Blayze Buseth, the pandemic allowed him to accelerate the timing of the workshop space. He took that time and found a space downtown, renovated it and prepared to showcase his artwork and host art workshops. “As COVID started to simmer down, it started to seem like a real great opportunity for me to open up these classes, that people would finally have something to do,” said Buseth, artist/owner of Creation Shop.“Like a creative outlet. So this seemed like perfect timing.”
during a class at Creation Shop.
He opened his pottery and sculpture workshop in spring 2021 at 119 N. Mill St.The shop offers custom lessons for one or two people, kids clay parties, kids classes on Sunday afternoons and Tuesdays after school, adult workshops, Friday date-nights to make pottery, and introduction to pottery classes,
Everyone is met at their own level of art ability in the classes, he added, so there’s more hands-on walk-throughs and patience when working with young children in the classes as they built their creations. Older kids have more freedom to create, Buseth added. Buseth teaches the classes and also has some help from volunteers. He’ll start a class explaining the workshop and giving demonstrations before everyone grabs
the prepped tools and clay to begin the different stages of the project. Participants select glazes at the end of class. Once the pieces are dry, Buseth firesthem, glazes them and lets his artists know when their work is finished a couple of weeks later. Creation Shop mostly focuses on working with clay using different techniques.There’s a character-making class where clay is transformed into sculptures, as well as box making and the pottery wheel. “I feel like we’ve got a unique space where people can actually create something that’s usually pretty high quality,” Buseth said.“I’ve been an artist for about 12 years, so I’ve got a lot of skills to share.
The front of Creation Shop is a gallery of retail space where Buseth shares his own artwork. It includes his work at the Creation Shop as well as work he made studying abroad in China and at other past artist residencies.
Buseth said he thought he’d be an underground artist his whole life, having his art seen only after he’s gone. He’s enjoyed having his artistic presence in town, though. “By being part of downtown Fergus Falls, I can share my skills and also see the impact of the arts on people and the community,” Buseth said.“The world teaches a certain mindset. People are often stressed and overthinking. When they are creating in a workshop, they can escape and go with the flow of their project.”
In the future, Buseth hopes to add adult workshops, too. With the Sunday kids classes, he’s seen the interest of parents and adults who want to join in the fun to make their own art. Those interested in the Creation Shop workshops can register online via the website: CreationShopMN.com. Also, stay updated on events via Facebook and Instagram, both @CreationShopMN.
