We Did It Boys! The Studio is Open

In a cozy New Paltz studio, creativity finds a home among an eclectic mix of tables, wooden chairs and cushioned benches arranged for collaborative work or study. The space is dotted with quiet nooks perfect for solo projects, while scattered pillows give it a casual, lived-in feel. One, a bright SpongeBob Square Pants plush, adds a playful touch. Art lines the walls, showcasing a variety of styles and providing inspiration at every turn. Creators are welcomed into this new space to dive into projects or just enjoy the creative atmosphere, which blends practicality and artistic charm.

This is the recently-opened creative workspace and DIY venue by We Did It Boys at 215 Main St. in New Paltz. Advertised as an “internet cafe without the cafe,” the space has indoor and outdoor seating with internet and outlet access. The Studio is an 18+ space meant to “reawaken and nurture the creative adult spirit,” said owner Ally Bell. Folks are encouraged to bring a laptop, sketchbook, spec script, collage materials or anything else they wish to work on in a communal format for a couple of hours.

The Studio is the new brick-and-mortar element of Bell’s broader We Did It Boys business, “a container for a continuing lifetime of learning and working in the creative arts,” Bell described. The name of her business came from the encouraging phrase of camaraderie regarding the success of humor, hijinks and a job well done — “We did it boys” — she would often say to friends.

The We Did It Boys business originally started as an inside joke newsletter in 2019 to fill the need for “wackier expression” outside Bell’s day job where she was in charge of communications. “As a lifelong practicing artist who has had to hold down multiple day jobs, my energy to create, promote and sell work was limited, but as I started to get my own voice out with the newsletter, I started to get more motivated to focus on my own creative practice again and be able to collaborate with others,” Bell said. “This seemed like a good way to get my spark back.”

Now, she said she is thrilled to have the opportunity to solidify that jokester spirit into a creative business that can grow and change as it pleases.

Bell has been immersed in the creative arts her whole life. Through her years of primary schooling, she enrolled herself in a stream of art classes—drawing, painting, design, photography and sculpture. She went on to major in art at SUNY New Paltz, where she received a BFA in graphic design.

From there, Bell began working as a graphic designer right out of college in 2012, running the social channels and writing an email newsletter for a small business. She moved up to the local nonprofit arts center Unison Arts and worked in a variety of roles there, including director of marketing and then director of operations. It was here that she became more intimate with marketing and communications, running events, budgeting, finances and fundraising. “Learning those skills led me to feel comfortable with the idea of running my own business in the community,” Bell said.

So, the next step to open her own studio in town on Oct. 9 just made sense. “I’ve lived in New Paltz as a working adult for over a decade and always kept my eye on retail spaces for rent throughout the years ‘just in case,’” Bell said. “I love curating spaces and bringing people together, so I wanted to create a space that encapsulates the vibe of being in the studio, an experience I loved sharing with my peers in high school and college. I found working alone all the time to be very limiting and frankly boring, so the brick-and-mortar is important to my mission to foster a creative community and offer something back.”

“I always fantasized about having my own studio space to fully dedicate my time and energy to creation and experimentation, so here we are,” she added.

Bell believes The Studio is an art project in its own right. “It’s highly experimental and a culmination of my life-long education and career in the arts,” she said. “I’m so grateful for all that I learned in those experiences and am thrilled to be added to the roster of New Paltz business owners because it’s quite a fabulous bunch.”

The space is currently displaying a “fluid exhibit” of Bell’s artwork, entitled “This Little Piggy’s Artwork from the Archives,” much of which is available for purchase. However, she looks forward to including other makers in future exhibitions as well as hosting performance events, such as DJ lounge sessions, singer-songwriters, poets or comedians. “This space is a blank canvas for anything creativity-related,” she said.

“My intention for this space is for people to come play and create meaning,” Bell said. “I’m excited to see who starts showing up in earnest. Bringing unlikely groups of people together is one of my favorite things and I’d love to assemble some sort of creative team or collective to experiment with. It’s such a privilege to be able to focus on this project and share this space with others. I’m looking forward to creating a fresh concept that can grow and change over time.”

The Studio hosts open-studio work sessions on Wednesdays from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The drop-in fee is $7 for card and mobile pay or $5 in cash.