Sabrina Sucato January 18, 2023
Hyperbole has teamed up with Super Secret Projects, a collective of local artists, to open a gallery space connected to the Beacon storefront.
By Sabrina Sucato, with additional reporting by Matt Moment
We’re not being hyperbolic when we say Hyperbole is an essential stop for shopping local in the Hudson Valley. In fact, the sweet storefront on Beacon’s main drag is a hub for all things eye-catching. Whether it’s handmade Hudson Valley art, stylish shoes from sustainable makers, or sparkling baubles from independent artisans, Hyperbole probably has it. “With Hyperbole, our mission is to support people who make beautiful, original, and socially responsible products within the Hudson Valley and beyond,” say co-owners Andrea Podob and Carolyn Baccaro.
Prior to the opening of Hyperbole in the fall of 2019, both women were already committed to that mission, albeit in slightly different ways. On East Main Street, Baccaro was busy running Artifact, where she stocked art and jewelry from independent vendors. Over on Tioronda Avenue, meanwhile, Podob collected one-of-a-kind clothing and jewelry for her displays at Wares. Ironically, the two opened their respective storefronts within months of each other and maintained a commitment to support and sell small-batch, local products from the outset.
As fate—or the small-town magic of Beacon—would have it, the duo soon became acquaintances, and later, good friends. They bonded over their shared aesthetics, past careers, and shopping mentalities, not to mention the fact that they both owned small jewelry brands. At the same time, they realized the overlap had the makings of a harmonious partnership in the heart of Beacon. “We realized it would benefit both of us—and the artists whose work we carried—if we were to combine our two businesses and form one ‘superstore’ in a more central location on Beacon’s Main Street,” they explain. “Hyperbole is the happy result!”
A true fusion of the former businesses, Hyperbole is a one-stop shop for local, independent, and sustainable makers within the Hudson Valley and beyond. Displays range in nature from eco-chic dresses and sweaters to handcrafted bags, artisan-produced jewelry, and regional prints. The overall aesthetic is a dash of Brooklyn, a swirl of Hudson Valley, and 100-percent Instagram-perfect. “For shoppers, we want to make it easier to avoid fast fashion and cheaply made products,” they say. “We understand how much time and hard work goes into making a beautifully handcrafted piece, so we wanted to provide an outlet for fellow makers to sell their work.” The women may be serious about their “support small” mindset, but they want to keep the shopping experience fun for everyone. They chose the name Hyperbole both for its energy and as a comic reference to their tendency to make over-the-top statements about just how wonderful their community of artists and makers is.
Partnering With Super Secret Projects
In line with Hyperbole’s mission to support local makers, Podob and Baccaro have teamed up with Super Secret Projects, a collective of local emerging artists, to establish a gallery space conjoined to their storefront. Super Secret Projects is an artist-run initiative, affording its members more creative control in the display and sale of their work than they would have in a traditional gallery setting. “We already sell local art at our shop, but we wanted to expand on that and bolster the artistic community we love,” say Podob and Baccaro. “The gallery scene in Beacon is phenomenal. Even our local coffee shop, Big Mouth, is also a gallery. We hope that this new, artist-run gallery complements the existing scene.”
On January 14, the collective opened its first show, Duality, comprising photographs, paintings, sculptures, prints, and clothing by its members. A curious, yet compelling conceit of the inaugural exhibition is its focus on the body and its relationship to space. Evan Samuelson, for example, contributes an oil painting of a tightly cropped bust swathed in organic matter which inflicts a certain claustrophobia on its viewer. Alyssa T. Follansbee’s Taking a Bath, on the other hand, depicts a larger-than-life infant bathing in a waterfall—it is at once comical and profound. Dualities exist “within our experience as new parents, our battles with mental health, our self-image,” says collective member Allegra Jordan. “We [created] an environment where each participant—artist and audience alike—[is] able to walk through and see their own multitudes reflected back at them.”
Duality will be on view through February 4, followed by two consecutive solo shows. Both Hyperbole and the gallery are open daily from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Artists may apply to join the collective online.
We had the good fortune of connecting with Carolyn Baccaro and Andrea Podob and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Carolyn & Andrea, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Hyperbole is founded on the belief that the absolute best products on earth are the ones that make you feel good about shopping: made by real people, designed with purpose, and unique to your style. Our mission is to curate a fun collection of artwork, clothing, and jewelry while connecting new, emerging artists with a larger audience.
After three years in business, we developed close personal relationships with many local artists who sell at our shop. Diana Vidal and Alyssa Follansbee are two of our favorites. Working together, we’ve expanded our business to include a new gallery space for a local art collective called Super Secret Projects. SSP has allowed a group of like-minded visual artists to collaborate and show their work in a more formal gallery setting.
Diana, a photographer and collage artist with experience in gallery management and curation, is SSP’s director and has spearheaded the effort. Together, we have created a unique place for everyone to enjoy, from amateur artists and casual visitors to experienced collectors looking for fresh new talent.
What should our readers know about your business?
We’re a brick-and-mortar shop supporting independent artists and emerging designers in the Hudson Valley, New York (juuuust north of NYC). We carry an assortment of original artwork, thoughtfully designed clothing, and sustainably produced jewelry with an emphasis on small batch production with a one-of-a-kind vibe (and a lot of times, they truly are).
Our products are made by real, hyper-talented people doing their best to produce quality goods as thoughtfully and responsibly as they can- and we love them for it! Our mission is to showcase their work and introduce them to consumers with like-minded values. Almost everything you’ll find in our store was made by an actual, super-talented person doing their best to produce quality goods with integrity and consideration for unnecessary waste.
It’s incredibly fun to curate our assortment and a privilege to introduce customers to a bevy of hard-working makers and play a small role in supporting their work.
Hyperbole is the lovechild of two previous storefronts- as co-owners, we originally owned separate stores with the same goal of supporting artists and curating a cool collection of thoughtfully designed and produced clothing and jewelry -that ultimately joined forces to form one superstore. Because you know what? Running a business by yourself kind of sucks. Especially when your friend is running a really cool one right next door and you have to compete- so why not, not do that?
Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
There are too many great places in Beacon to name, but some of our favorite local spots are Happy Valley Arcade Bar (run by artist Alyssa Follansbee and her husband, Johnny Coughlin!), Solstad House (great gifts!), Binnacle Books, Flora Good Times, Paul Brady Wine, and Wonderbar.
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
We’d like to give a shoutout to our amazing shop manager, Julia Zivic. A super talented singer/songwriter (check her out on Spotify!) and the person who helps us manage every little detail from shopkeeping duties to email marketing and event management. We love her and are super lucky to have her on our team.
