A Different Kind of Naked

1/22-2/28

Once upon a time, we would have said that artist Peregrine Honig could stand to branch out. That criticism is officially no longer valid. Honig, whose watercolors of nubile lasses have earned her fame, presents an exhibit at the Byron Cohen Gallery (2020 Baltimore) that includes some of her trademark watercolors, a handful of forest-themed lithographs (including a piece titled "Precious" depicting a mysterious doe) and a bunch of small sculptures. When we imagined her branching out, we stupidly limited our thinking to subject matter. Using the same subject matter but different media, Honig covers the same ground in a whole new way. The cast-urethane sculptures of pigtailed girls are a uniform flesh color, detailed with white socks, faces, nipples and pubic hair. A couple of bronze pieces are simpler and more classical. It's like watching the paintings you've seen for years take on an extra dimension. For information, call 816-421-5665.-- Gina Kaufmann

Cross Marketing

1/23-2/14

Jesus Christ is everywhere. We're not talking about omniscience, though that may be true. We're referring to his ubiquity -- the dude is f-ing everywhere. We've seen him on record covers, skateboards, T-shirts, bumper stickers, action figures and, for some reason, always on crucifixes. Hell, we've even seen Jesus in the flesh -- as a tattoo. Starting Friday at Rockhurst University's Greenlease Gallery (54th Street and Troost), we'll be seeing a lot more of Jesus -- and his mom, too. Born Again! Modern Madonnas and Contemporary Christs, an exhibit curated by Kate Hackman, studies the use of Christian religious imagery and subject matter in contemporary art. The exhibit features works by nineteen Kansas City artists, including Leo Esquivel, David Ford, Peregrine Honig and Johnny Naugahyde. Friday's opening starts at 7 p.m. For details, call 816-501-4607.-- Michael Vennard

Do Over

1/23-2/6

American New Year's celebrations are lame and smell like puke. We'd rather celebrate the Chinese way. We'll have dinner at home on New Year's Eve (January 21). The next day, we'll burn incense, hand out red envelopes and eschew housecleaning to preserve our luck. Or maybe we should let the pros show us how it's done by heading to Bo Ling's (4800 Main, 816-753-1718) between this Friday and February 6 for a seven-course Chinese New Year's dinner. All we need is a party of four or more ($18 a person) and a reservation made a day in advance.-- Kelly Sue DeConnick