Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Alyssa Follansbee. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alyssa, appreciate you joining us today. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?

My parents did an excellent job of allowing me freedom to be myself. I was the youngest of three kids, and both of my parents came from relatively big families where the adults weren’t super hands on. I remember asking them for random art materials and specific items I would need to create something, and them sort of passively directing me to where I could find said scissors/ paper/ tape without much thought. I still remember the moment I brought my mom this giant taped together paper dog I had created when I was about four years old, and her saying out loud “holy shit, Lyssa! You made this?” They always got a great kick out of my art making, and were consistently kind, supportive, and surprised by it. I would not have done well with parents who were pushing me to go in a particular direction, insisting I study art in a formal way, or putting too much pressure on what I made. They cheered me on and encouraged me, but also gave me lots of room and didn’t ask questions while I was making things, which really are the same conditions I like to make art in today. Also, my mom (and sisters) are very honest with me about the art I make that they like and *don’t* like, which probably has helped me to laugh off criticism a little bit better and also understand that my art may not be for everybody, and it’s nothing personal.

Alyssa, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am an artist, mother and business owner, and often the lines blur between these roles. My husband and I opened Happy Valley Arcade Bar in Beacon, New York in August of 2020. I designed our space, hand painted our wall murals, built much of our furniture, design all of our merch, and I am forever evolving and updating our aesthetic in addition to operating the business side. When I am not working on Happy Valley stuff or with my two kids, I am creating art. I recently had a solo exhibit of oil paintings, Interior, which opened in July 2023 at Super Secret Projects Gallery in Beacon, New York.

Prior to moving to the Hudson Valley and opening the bar, I was a New York City public school art teacher. Prior to *that,* I was working at random office jobs, making art at night, and trying to figure out how I wanted to spend my life. I really wanted to work in the arts as well as make a difference in the world, so I went back to school to get my Masters in Art Education and become an art teacher in 2014. Teaching really taught me what it meant to be empowered. Teachers are constantly assessing, adapting, remaining calm, problem solving, and creating the environment they want to be in through relentless effort. It was incredibly hard, incredibly rewarding, and also showed me how much I deeply missed making my own art. In 2018, we moved to the Hudson Valley, had a baby, and opened Happy Valley within two years. For me, opening my own business gave me a platform to showcase my design skills, and more flexibility and freedom to prioritize my art career.

My husband and I are working on launching a second hospitality business in the spring, I have a big art installation at the Wassaic Project coming up in October, and my kids are both under four, so it’s a constant juggle of time and resources to make progress in each area of my life. I am proud of the way I’ve been able to adapt to change and perpetually challenge myself to grow. I’ve accepted that I actually am most happy when I’m challenged and working on a project.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I think one lesson I wish I knew earlier is that when people try to treat you like you don’t belong, it’s really more about them than it is about you. I always felt like a sort of outsider in the art world, in that I had a roundabout path and it took me several years to glean an understanding of how things functioned. I remember asking questions, and people making me feel foolish or incompetent for being curious. I think the art world could do with a lot less gatekeeping and superiority. I try to be open and forthcoming with anyone looking to learn more about how to show their work or how things are made. There are many great artists out there whose work we never see because they may have been intimidated or turned off by traditional gallery settings. I love seeing younger people’s work and encouraging them. If someone scoffs at you or ridicules your enthusiasm, I think that’s more indicative of their own insecurity rather than your own incompetence. Some people like to pretend that art is only for wealthy people and people who have degrees in art history. Don’t listen to those people. Odds are, they are boring and not creative thinkers, anyway.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

For me, there is nothing more rewarding or magical than creating something that wasn’t there before. When I was studying art education, we talked a lot about how important it was for young artists to feel efficacious. Seeing and feeling something that you made really drives home this notion that you can impact the world around you. It’s empowering, and I feel like the more things I make, the more capable I feel. Installations and sculptures are really the most satisfying for me, in that they have such a direct impact in our physical space. It’s as though you are creating a new mini world, and the evidence that you can do so is all around you. Our society tends to treat art as something only people that are “good” at art should pursue. In reality, it is so important for people to witness the changes they can make in the world, and making art is such an excellent way to learn that. Having an idea for a business and then bringing it to life felt similarly rewarding. I may not have felt capable of starting my own business without the feelings of efficacy I gained from making art for so many years.

Contact Info:

• Website: atfollansbee.com
• Instagram: @atfollansbeeart @happyvalleybeacon
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HappyValleyBeacon/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyssa-follansbee-121a4734/