By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — A new business coming to downtown Rockford blends the line between playhouse and art gallery to give families a place to paint, draw, do crafts and play video games.
Rockford artist Judith Goudy, who has a bachelor’s degree in fine arts and a master’s degree in education, wants her new business to be a place where anyone from toddlers to senior citizens can pick up a paintbrush or pencil and enjoy the process of creating art.
Juju Rey’s Art Clubhouse will fill the former Bath & Body Fusion at 324 E. State St., a storefront owned by Urban Equity Properties. Bath & Body Fusion closed in mid-April to relocate to Byron.
“Our mission is to create an art space that provides families with something that isn’t like any other art gallery,” Goudy said. “It’s a space where they can have fun, be interactive with learning art and coming together as a community to enjoy art and games.”
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Goudy is a 33-year-old mother of two. Her youngest, Jules, turns 1 next week. Her oldest, Jemani, 12, has autism, and she said her new business would also give him a place to play.
“I wanted to also give him a place to come and have fun as well, because those resources are kind of low in Rockford, Illinois,” she said. “I love teaching. I love my kids and I love working with kids in general. I wanted to do something that gave my family an opportunity, too.”
Goudy has targeted a July 7 opening date, which is the first Friday after the Fourth of July, giving it a chance to debut on a Rockford City Market night.
The business will offer rates starting at $10 — and moving upward depending on the type of supplies you’ll need — to come in and create. Starting at $8 an hour, youth and adults can rent time with video games that include computer games and consoles such as Playstation and Xbox.
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Goudy’s artwork — primarily acrylic paintings and charcoal drawings — will fill the walls of clubhouse. She’s shown at ArtScene at Katie’s Cup, 502 Seventh St., for roughly six years and wants to stay involved in the biannual event by bringing other artists in to show at her space.
Goudy graduated from East High School in 2009 and earned her bachelor’s at Rockford University in 2016 before pursuing her master’s in education from Grand Canyon University. She said she’s always dreamed of teaching art and her new business allows her to do just that.
“This is a business that’s going to be built to provide the youth of Rockford a place to learn through the arts,” she said. “We really want people to come in and enjoy painting together as a family or as an individual — and you don’t have to be skilled.”
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JuJu Rey’s name is derived from Judith’s nickname since childhood, and the nickname of her partner, Reynaldo Bernard.
She hopes the shop will become a place where families create memories together.
“We really wanted to provide something that nobody else has,” she said. “I think people will really find enjoyment in that.”
Contact | Juju Rey’s Art Clubhouse
Where: 324 E. State St., Rockford
On the web: Follow Juju Rey’s Art Clubhouse on Facebook; instagram.com/jujureysartclubhouse
Email: jujureysartclubhouse@gmail.com
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on Twitter at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas