Holy Moly what a week it has been! It has always been a dream of mine for Out Loud HSV to have a physical location to dream and create and grow, and the Flying Monkey Arts was an obvious home for such a space. I never imagined it happening so quickly, yet here we are. I've had the key in my hand for a week now, and it feels so surreal. I've been on and off joy crying all week. I feel like my heart finally has a home, and it's Studio 260 at the Flying Monkey Arts, 2211 Seminole Drive, Huntsville Alabama.
This space is important for our community for so many reasons. First, our physical presence at Lowe Mill and the Flying Monkey Arts will allow for more people to hear about us, even if we aren't open, they'll see the name, they'll see the flyers. More eyes on our shining stars!
The space will have some of my personal work and artwork on display, along with NEW Out Loud HSV tshirts (thanks Robert & Green Pea Press!) and NEW stickers (thanks Pat Keefe!) which will allow us to try and raise some much needed funds to keep our scene growing with new events and programs and help little old me buy burritos in between running around and preaching my literary art love to the whole planet.
Most importantly though, this is a space for our community. YOU can be a part of this space. Yes you. If you have a book you want to try to sell in the shop, let me know. we'll jury ya in, work out a commission, and BOOM you have a physical location to sell your poetry, prose, fiction and more. Want to host a small workshop? Arrange a date and time with me and lets work out an affordable rental fee and BOOM you have a space to host a workshop. Got any other ideas? Pitch it to me. I have ears for days for all of you.
This is about US. We can grow literary arts in Huntsville. We can make more cool shit happen. Come hang out when we have the studio open and just DREAM with me. Drink some coffee, throw a dollar in the donation bucket for the cause, and lets create something amazing.