bio

Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1976, Nikolai was "encouraged to follow his inclinations" while growing up. In his late teens Nikolai became interested in the way that sound can be both a form of expression and communication while studying the social structure, anatomy and vocalizations of cetaceans. Inspired by the writings of Jim Nolman and J. D. Salinger, Nikolai joined a small group in South East Alaska where Jim used an electric guitar with custom underwater sound system to lure a mother and calf Humpback whale to the side of their boat. This experience left Nikolai fascinated and inspired to consider how both objective and non-objective perspectives could clarify ones relevance to the universe.

Nikolai went on the study biology, ecology, music and fine art at Prescott College in Prescott, Arizona, Montgomery County Community College in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania - receiving an undergraduate degree in Human Ecology from College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, Maine.

While in college Nikolai was introduced to traditional Irish fiddle music, Bluegrass and Southern Old-Time music from the United States. He was instantly fascinated by the paradox of simplicity and intricacy presented by these traditional forms of music as well as the essential social aspect incorporated into the playing and generational inheritance of the music.

After a full fellowship residency for painting at the Vermont Studio Center (February 2003), Nikolai traveled to Europe where he visited Athens, the Greek Islands, the Prado in Madrid and traveled with his brother (who was studying flamenco music) in the south of Spain. The theater of Velasquez's Las Meniñias, the social context of flamenco and the architecture and landscape of Greece viscerally cemented Nikolai's curiosity concerning the relationship between simplicity and sophistication.

Nikolai returned to Philadelphia to study traditional methods of figurative oil painting and drawing at The Pennsylvannia Academy of Fine art as well as in an unofficial mentorship with the Philadelphia based landscape painter, Stuart Shils.

For the next year Nikolai worked part time at the architectural firm SPG3, maintained a studio in the 915 Arts building on Springgarden Street and played banjo with the West Philadelphia based string band, The Flat Possum Boys (now The City Wide Specials).

While visiting Greg Miller in the mountains of central Vermont, Nikolai met Ahmet Baycu and began playing guitar with Ahmet, Greg and Jon Place in an early formation of the old-time string band the Bogstompers. Nikolai was greatly inspired by the music, energy and attitude of this group of musicians and on December 31st, 2004 Nikolai began his first cinematic undertaking entitled, Music for the Sky. Music for the Sky documents the music and attitudes of Ahmet, five of his musical and geographic peers and two younger musicians of similar spirit and intent. (see Music for the Sky description).

Music for the Sky is now in the final stages of post production and Nikolai is working with the record label Big Heavy World (Burlington, Vermont) to produce and audio cd of the field recordings from the making of Music for the Sky.

During the winter of 2007, Nikolai received a Jane Morrison Foundation grant for emerging filmmakers and recently returned from a dv cinematography workshop with Michael Minok at the Maine Media Workshops. He is now directing a 22-minute documentary about the films of Spindleworks, which is being produced by Finn MacDonald, and Spindleworks. Spindleworks is an art center for special needs adults located in Brunswick, Maine.

Nikolai is currently based in Dresden, Maine where he works as a freelance cinematographer.