'Exaltations'

From the collections of Gregg Blasdel, Julie Coffey, William L. Ellis and Jennifer Koch comes this exhibition at Burlington’s New City Galerie. It offers works, primarily sculptural, by self-taught artists, including two with Vermont connections: James Patterson and the late Christy Clapper. The word “exaltation” often carries religious connotations, and is closely related to the concept of elevation; this curator’s statement for this show asserts, “Exaltation comes in two forms here, as energized paeans of the spirit and as markers of self.” It also can refer to the contemporary practice of recontextualizing “grassroots” art. Artists also include Hawkins Bolden, Maria Corvino, Jesse “Outlaw” Howard, Rev. George Kornegay, Ed Root, Mary T. Smith and James “Son” Thomas.