Meet Claudine Julien of Liberation Studios in Fort Lauderdale

Today we’d like to introduce you to Claudine Julien.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Claudine. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I started Liberation Studios because I needed my own safe space to create and express myself. It has always been a place where artists can come and use whatever supplies I had, and I knew that soon enough, I had wanted bands and musicians to be able to come and create as well.

I felt like there was a lack of safe spaces people my age could go to create and network, without having to feel pressured to dress up or drink, so I went ahead and created one.

I was inspired by an art farm I lived on for a few summers in North Carolina. The barn was the meeting spot where we’d just listen to music, get dirty with paint, drink too much coffee, and listen to each other’s stories. Liberation has the same creative, down-to-Earth vibes.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Every person that comes appreciates the space and leaves a piece of them there. It has great energy and I, myself love being there, too. One of the struggles is lack of AC, and sometimes I do struggle to make rent. When I have events though, and people come out, and I see a group of kids having some good, clean fun and supporting each other’s creative endeavors, it makes me remember that this is much bigger than me, and it keeps me going. I’m sure soon enough I’ll fix the AC problem or move to a nicer space, but as for now, it works for what it is and I’m enjoying the ride.

Please tell us about Liberation Studios.
Aside from running the venue/gallery, I am a visual artist. I specialize in lettering, sign painting, and hand poked tattoos, and I teach workshops on handwriting and calligraphy. I think what makes me most proud of all that I do is just the fact that I am doing it. I’ve been told no, I’ve been ignored, and I’ve been told that it’s not gonna last, that I should have stayed in school, so on and so forth… but through it all I haven’t taken “no” as a final answer. Sometimes I do get down and wonder, maybe I should have taken the more steady road, but I know that that path just isn’t for me. Although rocky, I couldn’t be happier. I just need to keep going and I advise anyone else who may feel the same way to do the same.

If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I honestly can’t think of any other way I would have wanted things to happen. All the events that led up to where I am now was for a purpose and I’m pretty okay with that.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: instagram.com/claudine_julien
• Facebook: facebook.com/liberationstudiosfl

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