In case you missed it, there’s a new addition to OUT OF THE BOX: the subscriber-only chat!

It’s a conversation space in the Substack app that I set up exclusively for my subscribers (paid and unpaid), that functions like a group chat, live hangout, or private social network for folks who love art.

One of the biggest reasons I started OUT OF THE BOX was to create a space where artists and art lovers could talk to one another and find solace and meaning together. I’m so excited about this feature because, unlike comment threads, everyone can post images! We can share our work, art we love, or issues we’re pondering.

Everyone is welcome!

It will be a place where we can slow down a bit, chat about wide-ranging topics, pay attention to things we care about, and not have to worry about trolls.

I’ll post thoughts, questions, and updates along the way, and you can jump into the discussion any time.

The details

To join our chat, you’ll need to download the Substack app. Notifications about new chats are sent via the app, not through email like the newsletter is. Turn on push notifications so you don’t miss a chance to join a conversation as it happens. (If you want to avoid notifications, you can always check the app to see if there are any new chats to join.)

How to get started

1. Download the app by clicking this link or the button below. Chat is only on iOS for now, but chat is coming to the Android app soon.

Get app

2. Open the app and tap the Chat icon. It looks like two bubbles in the bottom bar, and you’ll see a row for my chat inside.

3. That’s it! Jump into my thread to say hi, and if you have any issues, check out Substack’s FAQ.

Join chat

I’ve already started my first chat thread so come on over and say hello!