Reflecting on the influence of Jugglers in my life:

Jugglers. A gallery. A home and a heart. Open to all. I will never forget sitting beside Pete for the first time inside Jugglers Art Space in 2011. I can remember the smell of the white painted walls, the cool concrete floor and the feel of the black ottoman we sat on that day. I told him I was ready to have a studio and I had heard that Jugglers rented spaces to artists. I don't remember exactly what he said to me but I remember feeling seen, welcomed and supported. I was given the keys to an old Queenslander house on Maynard Street, Wooloongabba, shared with another artist, Kristy Morgan, a jeweller practicing as Ruby + Prankstar. It was to be just the two of us, in our art house.

When I arrived, the house was filled with leather, metal and bones, plants in jars and a quiet that I had not experienced before. The sound of the train line very close by was the metronome. Otherwise, there was so much quiet for my creative mind to hear itself. This gift of silence was a treasure that I did not know that I needed. I knew I needed the space and the time, but the privacy for my art practice to grow was key.

As well as the creative solitude, I soon realised that I needed to connect with other artists and to share my passion for teaching drawing. From my Maynard studio, I reached out to a painter, Joannah Underhill. I knew she was running workshops around Brisbane and I asked if she would like to meet and share knowledge and experience. We met at Lady Marmalade cafe and two hours later had a business plan sketched out for Urban Art Binge, a partnership that flourished for two pivotal years. Inhabiting Jugglers Art Space as our creative home, Urban Art Binge taught the skills of plein-air drawing and painting around Brisbane to many, and developed these works in studio night classes. Many of the Urban Art Bingers have gone on to continue their creative practices in various forms and Joannah and I were so proud of each of them. Although this time was full of beauty and deep connection, Joannah lived many of her years with cancer. She passed away in August of 2014, leaving behind a beautiful legacy of creativity, joy and humour. Jo remains present, walking alongside those who love her in myriad ways.

I handed back my keys to Maynard Street around this time, however, this first studio at Maynard and Jugglers Art Space lives within me. Once you are offered a creative home so fully and so generously, it makes a space inside the body that is intangible, yet so solid. I continue to practice as an artist. My focus has never wavered from the body, yet the ways in which I see continue to develop and be influenced by these early formative connections. The more I dig, the more I have realised that I need a scientific lens to see the body at different scales. My practice continues to investigate the layers between architecture, the body, science and the natural world. The art house within me is open.

I am forever grateful to Peter Breen, and every other person who has very contributed to the existence of Jugglers. From my whole heart, thank you

Emily Fong

Emily Fong (she/her)

www.emilyfongstudio.com

@emilyfongstudio