This program is sold out.

Join musician, artist, and filmmaker David Bernabo (Bright Archives, Why We Collect) for an intimate open studio event in the heart of Bloomfield.

This is a rare opportunity to step inside the working space where Pittsburgh's creative history is being documented.

Address will be sent to confirmed guests before the event.

What to Expect

A Behind-the-Scenes Look: Explore David Bernabo's studio, a working production house dedicated to preserving and creating local media. See tools and instruments used in Bernabo's diverse practice—from experimental documentary film to his musical projects like Watererer and How Things Are Made.

Archival Deep Dive: David will share a curated selection of rare, compelling, and often unseen archival footage and audio clips from his documentary projects (like his work on the Mattress Factory or local food systems), offering unique insights into the city's artists and institutions.

The Power of Process: Engage in a conversation about the intersection of art and archive. David will discuss his process for collecting, documenting, and weaving narrative from raw material, giving a special focus to his Bright Archives podcast series, Why We Collect.

Live Sound Experience: The evening will conclude with a short, improvised musical set by David and maybe a collaborator, utilizing instruments and electronics found in the studio to create a soundscape reflective of his film and archival work.

Come for the stories, stay for the conversation, and leave with a deeper appreciation for the rich, documented history of Pittsburgh's vibrant cultural ecosystem.

David Bernabo is a musician, artist, and independent filmmaker. He performs in the bands Watererer and How Things Are Made. His film work documents western Pennsylvania food systems, climate change, the studio practices of composers and artists, and the histories of iconic arts institutions like the Mattress Factory. He is most noted for Moundsville, a documentary co-directed with former Wall Street Journal writer John W. Miller, which screened on PBS for three years, and the biographical documentary Just For The Record about avant-garde composer “Blue” Gene Tyranny. Some of his work is preserved in the Mattress Factory Archives, UbuWeb, and The Thomas & Katherine Detre Library & Archives at the Senator John Heinz History Center.

He is a founding partner at Bright Archives. Previously, he worked at the Carnegie Mellon University Oral History Program, where he conducted oral histories and co-produced the Cut Pathways podcast. Prior to working at CMU, Bernabo developed videos for clients like PPG, Carnegie Museum of Art, and 412 Food Rescue and was previously the manager of the Senior Markets Business Analyst team at Highmark.

He holds a B.S. in Business Administration from Carnegie Mellon University. When not working, you can find him making all the various things collected on this website.