By Trevor
Piotr Orlov has been there from the beginning. He’s a long-time friend, trusted colleague and music junky extraordinaire. For my first major exhibition in 2003, Black President: The Art and Legacy of Fela Anikulapo-Kuti at the New Museum of Contemporary Art, he and I co-organized the music program. I’m a music lover, but his expertise was just what the project needed. Then in 2006 he organized the music program for the exhibition The Beautiful Game: Contemporary Art and Fútbol, which I co-curated with Franklin Sirmans. And for The Record: Contemporary Art and Vinyl Piotr wrote a wonderful essay and helped shape the catalogue and website with his insightful guidance. I know he is the unsung collaborator behind many a great creative project. I’m just not sure how he finds the time as Brooklyn-based critic, curator, events producer, DJ and founder of the monthly dance-party Treehouse–and new dad.
It was a blast celebrating with Piotr in person at the opening of The Record where he spun his favorite vinyl. Piotr’s Record essay lives on in the new issue of the e-zine Shelf Unbound. Check it out. Thanks, Piotr. You are the man!
IMAGES: Piotr Orlov (top) spins records at the opening of The Record. Piotr (left) celebrates with (from left) Trevor Schoonmaker and artists Barkley L. Hendricks and Harrison Haynes. Photos by Dr. J Caldwell.
