The Epsten Gallery is much smaller and lesser known than institutions like the Nelson-Atkins, Kemper or Nerman museums. But the gallery, located in the center of Overland Park’s Village Shalom assisted living facility, is currently hosting one of the most interesting exhibitions in the city.

The 2015 Women to Watch exhibit, part of a national series sponsored by the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, D.C., includes the work of five area women: photographer Lara Shipley, video artist Diana Heise, mixed media artists Rain Harris and Sonie Ruffin, and sculptor Linda Lighton. These artists were selected from a national jury of artists and arts professionals, and the result is a provocative collection of symbolic and visually intriguing works.

The exhibit has already generated discussion following the voluntary removal of several of Lighton’s works — ceramic sculptures in which barrels of guns were twisted into floral arrangements, with spent shells housing tubes of lipstick. Following last year’s shooting at the Jewish Community Center and the nearby Village Shalom, in which three people were killed, gallery organizers decided Village Shalom residents would rather not be confronted by gun imagery of any kind, even that as subtly and skillfully fashioned as Lighton’s pieces. She has since replaced them with other works.

The conversation about art’s value as a political and social conversation starter continues, however, and this is an exhibit you’ll want to see for yourself. Located at 123rd Street and Nall, The Epsten Gallery is free to visit and open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

The Women to Watch exhibit runs through March 22. Visit epstengallery.org for more information and to preview upcoming exhibits.

Spilling

Singer/songwriter Elvis Costello will perform at 8 p.m. Thursday at the Uptown Theater.

First Friday

This Friday is the first of the month, which means that galleries throughout the Crossroads will be debuting new exhibits and art sales.

One gallery worth checking out is the Belger Crane Yard, a little east of the main First Friday action at 2011 Tracy. The current exhibit is “Passages,” a series of “painterly sculptures” by Lauren Mabry.

Belger Crane Yard is also home to Red Star Studios, which houses artists’ studios, ceramics sales and weekend art classes. View more details at redstarstudios.org.

Concerts

Next weekend, the Kansas City Symphony performs Beethoven’s “Leonore” Overture No. and Schumann’s “Rhenish” Symphony at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets are available at kcsymphony.org.

British singer/songwriter Elvis Costello will perform at 8 p.m. Thursday at the Uptown Theater. Tickets range from $55 to $140 at ticketmaster.com.

Looking ahead, the KC Symphony recently announced it has added a show with singer Randy Newman to its schedule on June 10. Newman, of course, is the six-time Grammy winner famous for songs like “Sail Away” and “You’ve Got a Friend in Me,” from the 1995 film “Toy Story.” Tickets range from $49 to $89 and are for sale online or by calling (816) 471-0400.

Speaking of iconic septuagenarian songwriters, the inimitable Bob Dylan will be visiting this spring for a May 10 concert at the Music Hall of Kansas City, which is located in the second floor of Municipal Auditorium. No word yet on how stacked the set list will be with Sinatra covers, so keep an eye on bobdylan.com, where tickets are on sale.

‘Puppets After Dark’

The annual Paul Mesner Puppet Studios “Puppets After Dark” fundraiser takes place this Saturday at the Madrid Theatre (3810 Main St.). The event featuring comedic puppet routines helps raise money for children and classrooms to attend performances throughout the year.

A VIP reception with an open bar will run from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. and the show begins after that. Creative cocktail attire is encouraged. Tickets for all levels are available at paulmesnerpuppets.org.

Sporting KC kickoff

And Sporting Kansas City fans of all ages might want to check out the season kickoff party at 7 p.m. Wednesday (doors at 6 p.m.) at the Uptown Shoppes event space at 3600 Broadway. Tickets to the party cost $10, which can then be applied to merchandise for sale at the event.

The regular season kicks off at home at 6 p.m. March 8 against the New York Red Bulls. Visit sportingkc.com for more information on games and other events.

— 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.