John Watt

A little bit about John

What Pittsburgh arts space do you recommend to visitors?

Arcade Comedy Theater. It’s one of those places that you know, no matter what show you go to, you’re getting something quality.

What creative event are you looking forward to the most this year?

I like wandering around the Millvale Music Festival. It’s a great chance to see bands I’ve heard about but haven’t gotten a chance to see in person yet. 

What’s the last artwork that wowed you? 

I would say it was at Jack Swing’s album release party at Spirit. I’ve gotten to know the leader of the band, Isaiah, through some mutual friends. The place was packed. I love shows where you can tell they’ve put in a ton of work to cultivate a local following, and a lot of their friends are at the show—it creates something really special.

What was the most influential book you read last year? 

I think the book I most connected to last year was A Paradise Built in Hell by Rebecca Solnit. The book shows how, in disasters, people open up and are more helpful to each other than in more peaceful times. It really shifted my thinking around navigating a world that's more and more unstable. 

What are your strategies for surviving the Pittsburgh winter?

I like winter a lot. I think it requires a certain mindfulness. It requires a certain acceptance of what is.