Multiple venues
October 16 – October 19
Various times
Creative enterprise lies at the heart of a new event series taking place in multiple Pittsburgh neighborhoods from October 16th through October 19th. Dubbed FULLTIME, the series will showcase the creative process of local independent artists, designers and small businesses, provide the public with a behind-the-scene look at several new artistic projects taking root right here in the Burgh, and will explore a new, informal festival-like format for event curation.
Spearheaded by a collective of local designers who share friendship and a passion for all things made in Pittsburgh, the curated series of independently organized events are tied together by the individuals who are making them happen and the city that houses them. For its inaugural edition, the open source series is setting up shop at distinct spaces all around town—from a bottle shop to a front porch. Many of the events are free and all are open to the public.
FULLTIME kicks off on Thursday, October 16th with the free branding presentation at Atlas Bottle Works. Join entrepreneur Brian Mendelssohn and designers Bill Krowinski and Nick Caruso as they discuss the spark, drive and vision behind creating and launching the new Lawrenceville-based craft beer shop and its product designs.
“To go into a business that was created from scratch and hear the story and mission from the people who started it and branded it—standing inside a fully designed and functioning business and hearing how it happened from the spark of an idea, and from multiple perspectives—that whole concept is huge,” says Dan Rugh, founder of the Pittsburgh based design and print firm, CommonWealth Press, who wanted to create a week to showcase design in Pittsburgh, while also allowing for a fluid and organic space for FULLTIME to percolate, evolve and expand in the future.
The local beer theme continues over at Bayardstown Social Club at the free 99Bottles and Bonfire event, where Deep Local will release its new beer created by East End Brewing. Be sure to place your empty bottles on the wall, to vie for the chance to win Beer Barge tickets, SPAK Brothers pizza and goodies from The Pub Chip Shop.
Friday, October 17th marks the sold-out return of the CommonWealth Press Beer Barge, featuring a rocking lineup of local breweries, local distilleries and local bands—all aboard the iconic Gateway Clipper—for fun along our three mighty local rivers. Departure time is 7 p.m.
FULLTIME heads to Wildcard on Saturday, October 18th, when the independent boutique celebrates its fifth anniversary. With a massive colorful wall of handmade cards, vintage displays housing everything from onesies to wallets, Wildcard is your one-stop shop for creative meaningful gifts. Embodying the DIY aesthetic, Wildcard features work by countless local artists and indie crafters, and well as leading designers and product makers from around the US. Patrons will enjoy a scavenger hunt inside the beautifully designed store, free drinks and an artist happy hour.
Additional FULLTIME highlights include a Troika skateboards street demo and Designer Discard yard sale at CommonWealth Press’ Southside warehouse, the second annual Pittsburgh Pierogi Fest at Stage AE and a house show and art sale presented by Worker Bird and Yellow Couch Studio in Mt. Lebanon.
Wrap up your FULLTIME festivities on Sunday, October 19th, with a mash-up of science fiction and performance at Row House Cinema. If sci-fi film is your guilty pleasure, you don’t want to miss Plan 9 From Outer Space: Live! presented by local artist Matthew Buchholz (aka Alternate Histories), who recently launched his latest project via Kickstarter. Buchholz’s Classics of Filmdom is lovingly dedicated to “preserving the scripts to some of the worst sci-fi films ever made.” A sci-fi thriller written and directed by cult favorite Ed Wood in 1959, Plan 9 stars famed horror star Bela Lugosi posthumously, and even gained “worst movie ever made” thanks to film critics. The making the cult classic was dramatized in the 1994 Tim Burton movie, Ed Wood, starring Johnny Depp.
Bringing the film’s screenplay (back) to life will be a cast of local celebs and actors, along with music, sound effects and appropriately unexpected twists. Joining Buchholz for the live reenactment will be DJ Zombo, Annie DiMario, Stephan Broadus and Amanda Waltz. The film’s lead role of Jeff Trent will be played by a lucky audience member selected randomly. Copies of Alternate Histories’ pocket-sized script to Plan 9, as well as his scripts to such screen gems as Santa Claus Conquers the Martians and Manos the Hands of Fate, will also be for sale at the event.