Sedgwick Family Photos

Nikko Sedgwick is blowing up his family — well, blowing up the scale of his family portraits, that is. In the downstairs gallery of The Re Institute, curated by sculptor Henry Klimowicz in Millerton, N.Y., Sedgwick’s “Family Snapshots” are super-sized, chemically altered, and flattened over a thick base of glitter, coming out looking like they survived a space voyage with David Bowie and saw the other side of Mars. Sedgwick is part of the old Brahmin dynasty that sprung out of the Massachusetts Bay Colony and has been the face of every American art form — his sister is film and television actress Kyra Sedgwick, his cousin was Edie Sedgwick, the Youthquake It Girl filmed and photographed by Andy Warhol, and his great-grandmother was Edith Minturn Stokes, painted by famed Edwardian portraitist John Singer Sargent.

Sedgwick, who has relocated with his family from New York City to Litchfield County, Conn., full-time, described the distortion of his family photos as “exhuming something that’s been entombed in the skin of these photographs. Layers of skin, layers of self, layers of generational time. It’s a metaphor for what we obscure…”

His inspiration to use craft glitter as a dominant material sprung from its reflective properties. “The glitter exudes its own light and becomes like working with stained glass. I had been using metallic spray paints, silvers and golds, and then I was going through my basement and found a silver glitter wrapping paper.” That became the eureka moment that changed the trajectory of his large-scale work. “I just love this s—! Although it does infiltrate every corner of my life…”

Sedgwick will further discuss his work at The Re Institute’s artist talk on Saturday, June 17, at 3:30 p.m.

Photo courtesy the artist

Photo courtesy the artist

Photo courtesy the artist

Latest News

Pirates go back-to-back as league champs

The Canaan Pirates pose as champions after defending the Northwest Connecticut District 6 Majors Little League title.

Photo by Riley Klein

THOMASTON The Canaan Pirates are champions once more.

In the Northwest Connecticut District 6 Majors Little League title game Friday, June 13, the Pirates defeated Thomaston JRC Transportation by a score of 6-2.

Keep ReadingShow less
Red Sox end season with comeback win

NORTH CANAAN — The Canaan Red Sox ended the season with a thrilling 14-13 win over the Tri-Town Phillies Thursday, June 12.

Canaan trailed for most of the game but kept it close. Ultimately, the Red Sox secured the victory with a final-inning comeback in front of the home crowd at Steve Blass Field.

Keep ReadingShow less
State Rep. Horn injured in running accident

State Rep. Maria Horn (D-64) was treated for her injuries at Sharon Hospital.

Photo by John Coston

The day after concluding what has been described as a grueling legislative session, State Rep. Maria Horn (D-64) had a running accident, leaving her with a broken pelvis and collarbone among other more minor bruises and abrasions. Despite the injuries, she is in good spirits and recuperating at home, eager to get back on her feet.

Horn said after spending weeks in the assembly hall, she was eager to get some outdoor exercise in, but perhaps pushed a little too hard too soon. She said she was excited to get a run in on the morning of Friday, June 6, but was still exhausted from her time in Hartford and in the final stretch of recovering from a meniscus repair surgery in December.

Keep ReadingShow less
Walk-off win sends Pirates to championship

Milo Ellison sends a fly ball to left field, bringing home Brody Ohler and Sam Hahn in a walk-off win for the Canaan Pirates June 11.

Photo by Riley Klein

NORTH CANAAN — The Canaan Pirates advanced to the league championship after a comeback victory over the Tri-Town Red Sox Wednesday, June 11.

Down 3-2 with two outs and two on in the bottom of the 6th inning, "Mighty" Milo Ellison stepped up to the plate and launched a fly ball deep to left field. The single brought home Brody Ohler and Sam Hahn for a walk-off Pirates win.

Keep ReadingShow less