Em runs and owns a studio in Mullumbimby NSW, Studio 54 while managing another studio Small time. I met her through a good friend Ali while we were homeless for two weeks, where she let us set up base. Em’s home is a highlight from being up North as it is surrounded by nature while being close to Mullum and Byron, it’s a haven. Em is a kind, interesting, creative human who I was so fortunate to chat to. It was my first time in person as I was feeling pretty weird doing it but listening to Em speak reminded me why I wanted to share about her. This is a chat that is raw and unedited.
I guess our first question is about you and your studio, how you got to this position of owning/running a space…
I moved back from Melbourne because of Covid to Mullumbimby, I had originally saved up to move to New York and after a bit of bumming around, I thought fuck this, I’m going to bring New York to me. It started with event series at my old work, Saint Maries in Bruns doing poetry, comedy and stuff…. I guess I've been a part of a lot of studios in Melbourne and then moved back here, I thought I could start one myself (Studio 54) and ended up taking over another one from a friend who moved away ‘Small time studio’. Whenever negative thoughts came into my mind, it was the one time I chose not to listen, I thought fuck it if it all comes crashing down, who cares, I might lose money but I believe in it and if it fails who cares.