Two new exhibits at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art confront viewers with the realities of war, albeit in dramatically different ways.

The first, “American Soldier,” is a photography exhibit in the Bloch Building that chronicles American involvement in conflicts from the Civil War all the way through our nation’s ongoing military operations in the Middle East.

The portraits range from a small, staged portrait of a World War I soldier holding a sign reading “To Hell with the Kaiser,” to large-scale prints of vacant-eyed soldiers facing repeat employments in Afghanistan.

Larry Burrows, English (1926–1971). The mission over, Farley gives way, from Yankee Papa 13, 1965. Gelatin silver print, 10 15/16 x 8 1/8 inches. Gift of the Hall Family Foundation. The photograph is part of the American

“Sketch for Composition II” by Wassily Kandinsky, oil on canvas, 1909-10, is part of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art's “World War I and the Rise of Modernism” exhibit.

As arresting as these images are, the notes from the photographers and the quotes from the subjects themselves are what give this exhibit an impact and heft that far outsizes the relatively small scale of the exhibit itself.

Just up the stairs into the old building in galleries P31 and P34, the “World War I and the Rise of Modernism” exhibit presents the work of German Expressionists, Italian Futurists, French Surrealists and several other styles in an examination of artwork just before, during and after World War I.

The artwork included in the exhibit is stunning to see in person, including Wassily Kandinsky’s “Sketch for Composition II,” on loan from the Guggenheim Museum in New York, a small painting from Egon Schiele of his muse, Wally, and “The Green Domino,” a captivating portrait by Albert Bloch, who taught drawing and painting at Kansas University from 1923 to 1947. Also included are sculpture, furniture and even teapots from European artists, particularly those of the Bauhaus school.

The exhibit includes a timeline of the events leading up to and following World War I, as well as how they affected the European artists of the time. It’s a fascinating glimpse of where one world ended and a new one began, from the beginnings of the avant-garde to the post-war innovations of the Modernist movement.

Visit Nelson-atkins.org to see an interactive timeline and access a Spotify playlist of the music of the times.

Museum hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday, and from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday and Friday. Admission is free to both exhibits.

Live jazz

The RecordBar, at 1020 Westport Road, will be showcasing some excellent jazz groups this week, beginning with tonight’s performance by the People’s Liberation Big Band at 8 p.m. Next Sunday, Feb. 8, local jazz ensemble Shades of Jade will perform at 8 p.m. These concerts each cost $5 at the door.

On Tuesday, Feb. 10, Alaturka, an exceptionally talented ensemble of local jazz artists inspired by the music of Turkey, will play an early show, with doors opening at 6 p.m. and a performance from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tickets are $15 in advance at alaturkamusic.com, or for $18 at the door.

The RecordBar also has quality bar food, with a variety of music-inspired menu items, such as “The Moby” (a vegetarian sandwich), “Bat Out of Hell,” (a meat loaf sandwich, of course), the “A Love Supreme” pizza, and a variety of “gangsta wraps.”

Missouri Mavericks

With the NFL season (nearly) over and the MLB and MLS seasons still several weeks away, consider heading east on I-70 to The Independence Events Center, home of the East Coast Hockey League’s Missouri Mavericks.

The Mavs play three home games this week, beginning with a Tuesday night matchup versus the Quad City Mallards at 7:05 p.m. On Friday, the Mavericks face off against the Rapid City Rush at 7:05 p.m, and on Sunday at 4:05 p.m. they face the Mallards again.

Even if you’re not a big hockey fan, the fan experience at the Independence Events Center is an engaging one, with plenty of fan giveaways and contests, including one in which fans compete for free pizza by tossing plastic hockey pucks into a ring on the ice. Tickets start around $21, with two-for-one and family 4-pack specials available at missourimavericks.com.

Remodel + Garden Show

This weekend, the Kansas City Remodel + Garden Show will be at the American Royal Center in the West Bottoms (next to Kemper Arena) from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

The event brings together dozens of exhibitors in the remodeling and gardening industries for showcases, demonstrations and informational displays. Tickets are $10 at the door or $8 at kcremodelandgarden.com.

— Lucas Wetzel is a writer and editor from Kansas City, Mo. Know of an upcoming event in Kansas City you’d like to see featured in Kansas City Connection? Email us about it at kcconnection@ljworld.com.