Henry Simonds ’93 attracts a wide scope of artists to Pedantic, his new creative hub in Pittsburgh that houses an arts nonprofit and a residency program, as well as accommodations for visiting artists.

      “Pedantic” is cunning in its double entendre. Simonds, an accomplished creative himself, had more than once been accused of pedanticism, only to realize how vital the quality is to understanding the importance of research and critique in his own work. To add to that, the hub’s building is located in the midst of one of Pittsburgh’s most bustling art scenes at the intersection of Penn and Atlantic Avenues. Pedantic was the clear nominal choice.

      Simonds established Pedantic in 2022 after nearly 30 years in creative industries and bouncing between Pittsburgh and New York. As a visual artist, collector, curator, and filmmaker who has also worked as a writer, editor, and producer, Simonds wears a number of hats. He graduated from Middlebury College in 1997 with a double major in film studies and visual art. Four years later he founded Headwater Media, a company focused on developing and financing independent documentary and narrative films. Although he still works in film, Simonds has spent the past decade plus concentrating primarily on visual art.

      “When I moved back to Pittsburgh in 2017 after a decade-long stint in New York, I didn’t have a studio,” Simonds recalls. “I ended up buying two buildings in pretty bad shape, followed by a quick and dirty renovation.”

      In 2018, Simonds began a low-residency program at Vermont College of Fine Arts to pursue his MFA in visual art. Throughout the program, he did a great deal of reading and writing—and it sparked something in him.

      “I quickly realized how important research is in my field,” Simonds says. “There’s lots of art being produced in Pittsburgh, but historically there’s been no real space for criticism and cultural conversation.”

      It was this newfound line of thinking that planted the seed for Pedantic and inspired Simonds to redevelop the two buildings on Penn Avenue into a four-story creative hub. As part of his vision, Simonds cofounded the Pedantic Arts Residency with Casey Droege, a monthlong residency held twice a year in January and June. The residency is comanaged by Droege and her staff at Casey Droege Cultural Productions.

      The residency, now in its third year, hosts a cohort of three creatives—one curator, one writer, and one artist.

      All sorts of creatives are drawn to Pedantic—the residency has hosted glassblowers, poets, photographers, experimental theater marionettists, filmmakers, actors, and comic book writers, among other professions.

      “There isn’t a production mandate,” Simonds explains. “We pair each resident with a local guide who’s knowledgeable in their discipline, who can arrange experiences like studio visits and museum tours.”

      The residency focuses on drawing inspiration through an immersion into Pittsburgh’s cultural community. As part of the program, Pedantic hosts weekly dinners; each week, a different resident is highlighted. “It ends up being a robust and very busy networking opportunity,” Simonds says. “At the end of the month, residents usually end up having somewhere between 80 and 120 points of contact.”

      Next door to Pedantic is Simonds’ own studio. As a visual artist, he works in photography, sculpture, and mixed media. He stays away from paint and likes to use whatever tools and materials are on hand—his aesthetic is utilitarian and pared down. In terms of subject, Simonds is interested in responding to historical depictions of madness and trying to correct the vernacular subjugation of people with mental illness—an important mission indeed.

      But the daily demands of owning and managing multiple buildings can take away from Simonds’ personal creative endeavors.

      “I have a super, but there are still plumbing issues,” he says, half joking. “Another challenge is fundraising for the residency. We’re currently a fiscally sponsored project and not our own nonprofit, but I would love to be able to have larger, more diverse funding streams.”

      Simonds’ life is busy but fulfilled. “I’ve created a space where artists can come out of their silos and chill,” he says. “I get to have intimate conversations and connect with fascinating people from all over the world.”