The Outland - An Odyssey
The Outland tells the stories of a community.
To say that Outland was just a premier destination for music and performance would be a complete understatement. It has been the prime terminal of creative focus in art for the queen city of the ozarks. Being a locus of inspiration and grossly unapologetic in its stances about its identity as not just some venue, but a space for ALL.
This space was curated and tailored to provide any and everyone willing to accept diversity. More importantly it has stubbornly dug its heels into south avenue as one of the biggest players in nightlife in downtown Springfield’s history that happily accepts patrons of all shapes and sizes, orientation, or theme. Seeing such a powerhouse stamped into the heart of adversity from living in the bible belt is, attracts like a moth to flame.
I cannot speak on the behalf of each creative hand that dealt into Outland. But what I can speak on is how important this space was to each of us as creatives and individuals with our own stories to tell.
Being a shadow writhing and oscillating in between each experience it could have provided. I was granted unprecedented access to the world that was Outland by just observing. I knew this place was special in particular. I gravitated towards Outland because of its unapologetic nature. The very real and almost bare bone aesthetic that it presented was unlike anything else in the city.
I saw a world of color. Not because of any opulent fomo goad that other places try to convince you of. No. Outland entangled us because of its very real way of expressing art. It provided us with the space and tools to be creative and unapologetic ourselves. To cultivate a diverse community of all different thematics and ideas is what kept it so influential.
Every individual I met was a creative mind that always had an idea about its potential. Of course, we all have our opinions about the outland, whether good or bad. But to deny what it provided is an injustice to all the inspiration we have all felt there.
This is reflected in my creative process, the deepest of blacks with the polarizing and blinding white of the stage lights. Imperceptible blips of color that crossed the faces of performers and patrons alike.
I used the space itself to build up an identity and creative style that still influences my art today. My instagram, Tyrphos, translates to “Tyr, of light.” because I believe the fundamental laws that physics bestows light and our eyes are malleable and influential. I could harness this power through a lens and patience. Maybe a little queerness too but I digress. Outland became a pinnacle of creative outlets for multiple different groups of people and being one who gleefully partook in all the different aspects it could provide was an accord no other entity in this world could have given me. I developed deeply emotional and creative relationships with each and every one of you because I believed in you. You believed in art and creativity, my potential.
Thank you.
