The name drew me in! And so glad it did. I was on 6th Avenue for lunch, so decided to walk around…read moreand check out all the nearby businesses, which is when I spotted a huge, colorful sign with a narwhal wearing sunglasses. It was The Nearsighted Narwhal! Of course I had to check it out. The shop is small, but has a ton of fun and witty gifts and items, from local zines to buttons to prints. I spent a good amount of time, checking out all the different and detailed items. Specifically, I really liked the magnets they sell here, as they have clever sayings with a colorful background. In fact, when I was checking out, I asked the owner if there were any more and she mentioned that she was making more magnets and to stop by again for different sayings. One that I bought says, "Not today motherfucker." Now who wouldn't want that hanging at their office? The Nearsighted Narwhal is a great store to browse and shop local. If in the area, definitely pay this shop a visit and support the local artists that sell their work here here. Plus, ya gotta love the Tacoma pride found, as they sell many items from tees to magnets, expressing Tacoma is cool and Seattle drools. Hah!

Cute shop! We popped in twice while in town to have lunch at nearby Shakabrah. The owner arrived as…read morewe were admiring the cute vinyl decals through the window. She let us in and was very pleasant and helpful as we shopped for t-shirts, lotions and decals. The jewelry was amazing-very bold and wearable. Loved that the t-shirts were high-quality, soft, amazing colors, and in all sizes, not just small and mediums. We each bought a t-shirt and I got a pepper lotion to use on sore muscles- whoa, its very potent! But I think I like it. The book and zine section was cool. I wish I had more time to browse that section.

I've been going to Tacoma Photo Center since basically the day they opened and it's honestly become…read moreone of my favorite places in Tacoma. They've built such an amazing, welcoming community around film and photography. You've got everything you need here... self-development stations, a proper darkroom, a camera library, film scanning stations, film & cameras for sale, and classes that are affordable. Drew and all the volunteers have had such a positive impact on the local arts community. They're knowledgeable, kind, and genuinely care about keeping film photography alive in Tacoma. It's rare to find a spot that feels this supportive and creative. Highly recommend checking it out.

Dropped off my very first roll of film today at the tacoma photo center and the experience was…read morereally good. I walked in and was warmly greeted the lady working the front counter was super nice and helpful. I also bought a couple rolls of film and the prices were cheaper than Amazon. They have a big case full of really cool vintage cameras and the store has a really chill atmosphere I highly recommend doing business with this place.

Great glassblowing experience with Ben. Large selection of items to make from various price points…read more Friendly staff that walk you through the process from picking out shape, design and colors in the gallery to making the piece in the hot shop. Great hands on experience to give you a glimpse into glass blowing.

We travel up to Tacoma for a dog grooming convention and a creative dog grooming contest, and every…read moreyear we take time to do glass blowing. This is my third time coming here and every time I have a blast!! We have had Ben as our instructor before and this year we had Donovan. They were both super nice, talkative and made us feel very welcome! It's such a cool experience to take part in such an artistic and highly valued craft! The knowledge Donovan has and shared was fascinating! It is the highlight of our trip to Tacoma! You really get to do a lot of the handling and crafting of your piece. Cassey and the staff up front are so friendly too! I love coming here and can't wait to come back next year!

My girlfriend brought me to Art & Clay Studio for my birthday in December, and I absolutely loved…read moreit. This place is such a gem. You can immediately tell that the owner puts extra care and intention into everything she offers. I had the chance to talk with her about some of the pieces and materials, and I really appreciated that many of the options are local -- always a big plus in my book. One detail that really stood out to me (and that I learned sets this studio apart from others in the area) is that she also finishes the bottoms of the pieces. That extra attention ensures everything fires properly in the kiln and helps the pieces last longer. It's such a thoughtful touch that shows how much pride she takes in her work. I also loved that all services are included in the pricing, so there are no surprise fees later on. That alone made the experience feel relaxed and stress-free. The selection is fantastic -- from small knickknacks to decorative wall pieces, to dishes like plates and mugs. I genuinely think anyone could find something here that fits their style. And best of all, you're not rushed at all. You could honestly spend the whole day there and no one would mind. While we were there, another woman came in with pottery she hadn't finished from a previous session. She set up with her tablet and headphones and worked quietly for a couple of hours -- it was really cool to see that flexibility. If you don't finish in one visit, you can pack up and come back later, which I love. Turnaround time was also impressive. From when we submitted our pieces to when we got them back, it was only about a week or two at most -- much quicker than I expected. And the results were beautiful. I'm so happy with how everything turned out and can't wait to come back again for another occasion. Highly recommend this studio to anyone looking for a creative, welcoming, and thoughtfully run experience.

Was great vibes! Went with my husband and daughter. A hour fly by cause we were so invested and not…read moretime limit when painting. (SAYLESS!) haven't seen the finished product but I am excited!

Small but impressive cooperative art gallery located right on the center spot of gorgeous Gig…read moreHarbor. There's a lot of work jammed into the space, but understandable and as many of you know, I'm a fan of salon style hanging whenever the situation calls for it! Cooperative membership galleries are the front line heroes of the art world, and this gallery boasts an impressive array of artists! Cooperative galleries, which are usually owned by a group of artists who share the expenses (and sometimes duties) of running the gallery are great places to always see work by a lot of artists at once. They also have to sell artwork in order to pay bills. Artists usually pay a monthly fee or a small commission on sales and keep the bulk of their sales. I particularly liked the work of visiting artist Jeanne Anderson, especially a gorgeous watercolor of a waterfall. Also liked the fine art woodwork of Dale McDaniels, whose intelligent pieces once again showcase why just because it's wood it doesn't have to be relegated or labeled "craft." If you're in Gig Harbor, this is a must visit place!

My Brother / Best Friend Ryan and I visited this lovely small art gallery when we were in Gig…read moreHarbor earlier this month. I didn't get the name of the artist who helped us, but he was just a sweetheart. He was an elderly gentleman who had a peaceful, laid-back vibe. I purchased a greeting card and a small ceramic bird on a metal stick. I'm very happy with my purchases. Prices ran the gamut, there was something there for almost every budget. We weren't in there for a very long time, but I'm happy we visited and felt that it was well worth the stop.

Even my teenager liked it! Our workshop with Anthony was great fun for the whole family. He…read moreprovided clear and engaging instruction, made us all feel comfortable, and helped out just enough to make sure we each had a cool ornament to take home. I highly recommend a visit!

Save your time & $$. These guys are a total JOKE! Booked a couples glass blowing. Paid for shipping…read moreback to HNL & even tipped the guys. Still waiting for our stuff. Endless calls unanswered and a voicemail box thats full. Text measages with no response either. Take your business elsewhere

This gallery is a co-op and one of the stops on the Gig Harbor Artwalk. A really fun experience…read morewhere you visit different galleries and studios along the waterfront. With the typical weather patterns in the Northwest, indoors is good. Art is so personal, I am always conflicted about assigning stars. One person's masterpiece is another person's candidate for the junk pile. So don't read too much into this rating. Of the seven galleries/studios we visited, nothing here 'spoke to me.' I ended up making purchases at two other galleries on the tour. It was the largest gallery of those we visited and the artists were welcoming and had snacks for visitors. My rating is based purely on my personal impression of the collection. Again, the largest, but nothing that knocked my socks off. However, collections change, so I would give it another try the next time I'm in town.

I learned a lot from Mark! The studio is organized and very well kept/ equipped, there's no where…read moreelse (except my home) I would trust to fire my pieces than here. Glad to have started my ceramic journey at Throwing Mud Gallery!

Instructor is WAY too controlling. I had second hand embarrassment lol. There's no reason I should…read morehave clay past my elbows from you trying to "instruct me." He's way too intense and is chasing business away. Almost ruined date night. :/