Diana Vidal’s photographs on display in Duality, the inaugural exhibition at Super Secret Projects’ new space in Beacon. Photo by Matt Moment
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.
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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.
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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!”
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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.”
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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.”
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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.
Related: Pinkwater Gallery Celebrates Local, Female Artists in Kingston
