Ohio State University’s Urban Arts Space is impressive and winding, well suited to the diverse faculty exhibition that currently shares the gallery with retiring abstract painter Alan Crockett. For OSU to present work from their art faculty is no bland thing: among them are recognized (even famous?) artists. Standouts from the array of works are the interactive video installation by Amy Youngs and “Deflated Painting,” a floor work by Suzanne Silver. Tony Mendoza’s large photographs of his Dachshund, Bob, are adorable and intense — real showstoppers. OSU Urban Arts Space is located at 50 W. Town St. in downtown Columbus with hours 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday; 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursday.

Tickets are on sale now for the 12th annual CEAs at the historic Emery Theatre Nov. 23. Opening the show is Bootsy Collins, who will be heading up a band of King vets (including his brother Catfish) to pay tribute to the late, great James Brown. Grammy Award winning bluegrass legend Ralph Stanley closes the show. Current local acts also scheduled to appear are Jazz/Hip Hop/Jam band Eclipse, Roots/Blues/Indie trio The Sundresses and ElectroFolk duo The Seedy Seeds. Doors open at 6 p.m., and the show begins at 7. $20.

JJ Grey was born, and remains, a true southern gentleman whose passion is rooted with a certain intensity, whose passion stems from a certain soil. This passion translates from soil to song and stage as “front porch Soul; gritty Funk and juke joint romps to contemplative Country Soul and blistering (Rock).” As Grey mans the mic, guitar, harmonica and keys, his mates in Mofro hold nothing back. Longtime comrade Daryl slides the guitar, the Italian Scone masters the Hammond, Art and Dennis lay down the horns licks and, the latest edition, Anthony Cole, beats out a percussive pocket. JJ Grey and Mofro embarked on a three-month tour in late August across the US promoting their latest release, Orange Blossoms. Turns out, a tour bus can set Florida’s state flower blooming countrywide in the spring and fall. Word got out quick, much to the efforts of juggernaut Blues label Alligator Records, and the people have been anxiously awaiting their turn to catch a whiff of these intoxicating blossoms. s Grey mans the mic, guitar, harmonica and keys, his mates in Mofro hold nothing back. Longtime comrade Daryl slides the guitar, the Italian Scone masters the Hammond, Art and Dennis lay down the horns licks and, the latest edition, Anthony Cole, beats out a percussive pocket. JJ Grey and Mofro put on a free show at 8 p.m. at The Southgate House.

Anyone interested in quirky, surreal or cynical art should drop by Sandra Small Gallery before Nov. 7 to see "Insider/Outsider: Alternative Views of America." The show presents artists from as near as Cincinnati to as far away as Maine: Steve Geddes, Michael Ransdell, Matthew Egan, Scott Small, Richard Fruth, Aaron Kent, Sandra Small and the late Raymond Thunder-Sky. Noon-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday.

Eight-six thousand pounds and counting: add a few of your unwanted pounds ... of old technology. The Hamilton County Solid Waste Management District has already recycled that much computer equipment this year. There’s still time to add your old monitors, CPUs, hard drives, mice, keyboards, laptops and other assorted modern technologies. Take any of the aforementioned items to Technology Recycling Group (5139 Kieley Place, St. Bernard) 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday–Friday until Dec. 30. Hamilton County residents need to show proof of address — driver’s license, utility bill, etc. — to recycle equipment.

The sheer beauty of the work is reason enough to pay a visit to "Illusion and Reality: Prints by Jiri Anderle," but the perceptive viewer will find much to think about beyond the skill of this Czechoslovakian artist. Turning adversity into a virtue is something artists are good at. The adversity of being an artist in a Communist society that forbade direct social criticism steered Anderle into a body of work well suited for comment on the human condition. So prints became Anderle’s dominant form of expression through much of his career. The exhibition continues Tuesday-Sunday through Jan. 3, 2009.

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying is a true classic of musical theater, which means it will be a lot of fun to watch when the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music brings its full forces to bear on a production of it at Corbett Auditorium this week. It’s being staged by Aubrey Berg, director of CCM’s acclaimed musical theater program for 22 years, a guy who knows what it takes to make a show look good and re-create what brought audiences to 1,417 performances over the course of four years. Unfortunately, you’ll only have four days to catch the show this week — so you’d best call right away for tickets. Through Sunday.

Don't mistake this production for "Wicked" (although surely the presenters hope that mega-hit show's magic rubs off on this one), but this has its own appeal, including dazzling sets and costumes by Tim McQuillen-Wright. His inspiration is the glamour and elegance of Art Deco Hollywood, in full bloom when the film was made in 1939, plus the stunning Technicolor hues that made the film a timeless visual hit. All of Harold Arlen's popular songs are used in the stage show (from "Ding Dong the Witch Is Dead" to "If I Only Had a Brain"). Through Nov. 23 at the Aronoff Center.

The desire for love is a fundamental urge, but perhaps as basic is the drive to remake the object of your affection. That's the funny and poignant premise of Joe DiPietro and Jimmy Roberts' off-Broadway musical, which Cincinnati Playhouse staged it successfully in 2000; it's back for a second run in the Shelterhouse through the holidays. It's a perfect date-night show but also one for mature audiences. Tuesday-Sunday through Dec. 31.

Antonio Adams, one of the founding artists of Visionaries & Voices, along with his mother, three brothers and sister, lost their home and everything they own in a fire on Oct. 24. Visionaries & Voices is a “non-profit organization that provides artistic and cultural opportunities for artists with disabilities.” In order to help the Adams family get resettled into another home, Rhino’s Bar & Grill (11473 Chester Road, Springdale) is holding a fund-raiser with live music from Ms Jaz, JAMSET, Encounter, Jeffrey Sexton and a silent art auction by V&V artists. The evening costs $10. And then on Nov. 22, Shake It Records (4156 Hamilton Ave., Northside) will donate 10 percent of the day’s total sales to The Antonio Adams' Family Fund (Hamilton County ARC, 801 A W. Eighth St., Suite 400).