ART

NEW PAINTINGS Lani Irwin’s exhibit of paintings at the Katharina Rich Perlow Gallery showcases the artist’s ongoing exploration of the human body, and, in particular, the female form. Many of the exhibition pieces depict figures — inspired by classical Flemish paintings — engaged in exaggerated dance poses and dressed in modern dance garb. The geometric backdrops such as carnival tents and stage curtains add an element of theatricality to the images. Wednesday through Saturday, December 1, Tuesday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m., Katharina Rich Perlow Gallery, Fuller Building, 41 E.57th St., between Madison and Park avenues, 212-644-7171, free.

THE CARTOONIST The Jewish Museum presents “From The New Yorker to Shrek: The Art of William Steig.” Steig worked for 73 years at the New Yorker, where his art appeared on more than 120 covers and more than 1,600 of his drawings were published. He is credited with transforming the way cartoons were created at the weekly magazine. He also wrote and illustrated children’s books; his picture book “Shrek!” (Farrar, Straus and Giroux) inspired the “Shrek” films by DreamWorks. This is the first major exhibition of the artist’s work. Featured are 190 original drawings, several of the artist’s notebooks, sketchbooks, and letters, as well as Steig’s mock-ups for his books for young readers. Through March 16, 2008, Saturday–Wednesday, 11 a.m.–5:45 p.m., Thursday, 11 a.m.–8 p.m., the Jewish Museum, 1109 Fifth Ave. at 92nd Street, 212-423-3200, $12 adults, $10 seniors, $7.50 students, free for members and children under 12.

WORLD VIDEO An international group of video artists explores themes of globalization, displacement, and mobility in the exhibit “Terra Infirma.” Among the eight featured artists are Perry Bard from New York City, Francesco Jodice from Milan, Italy, and Clare Langan from Dublin, Ireland. The film and video curator at the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, Spain’s national museum of 20th-century art, Berta Sichel, is the guest curator of the show. Through Saturday, December 1, Pratt Manhattan Gallery, second floor, 144 W. 14th St., between Sixth and Seventh avenues, 212-647-7778, free.

PAINTINGS

GOT TO GO UPTOWN The “IFA” in IFA Gallery stands for “Inspiration Fine Art” — the gallery was founded to spotlight the works of artists who live in Harlem and Washington Heights. IFA Gallery teamed up with Columbia University to mount “Migration,” a debut exhibit of paintings by Dionis Ortiz, which focuses on ideas of revolution and rebirth in immigrant communities. The show has its conclusion tomorrow at Columbia’s uptown medical school campus. Today and tomorrow, 8 a.m.–5 p.m., Columbia University, Russ Berrie Medical School Pavilion, 1150 St. Nicholas Ave. at 168th Street, and the Lasker Building, 3960 Broadway, between 166th Street and St. Nicholas Avenue, 917-331-2913, free.

DANCE

ON THE EDGE The program for Garth Fagan Dance’s 2007 season at the Joyce Theater includes the world premiere of “Edge/Joy,” a full-company piece that re-envisions space on the stage with action taking place along the periphery and overlapping entrances and exits. The Eastman Music Ensemble performs accompanying music, a suite of three works composed by Ricardo Zohn-Muldoon, during two performances. Mr. Fagan won a Tony Award in 1998 for his choreography for “The Lion King.” Tomorrow through Sunday, the Joyce Theater, 175 Eighth Ave., between 18th and 19th streets, 212-242-0800, $44.

SOIRÉES

‘GIRLS JUST WANNA’ SUCCEED The City University of New York’s Feminist Press holds its annual gala, honoring pop singer Cyndi Lauper and author Eve Ensler. Ms. Lauper is best known for her chart-topping singles released in the 1980s, including “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” and “Time After Time.” Ms. Ensler is the author of “The Vagina Monologues,” and the founder of V-Day, a non-profit organization that raises funds and awareness to combat violence against young women. Restaurateur B. Smith is master of ceremonies, and honorary co-chairwomen include author Barbara Ehrenreich, actresses Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, and writer Jane Wagner. Tonight, 6 p.m., Tavern on the Green, Central Park West and 67th Street, 212-838-2660 ext. 20, $500 and up.

PHOTO FEST A leading organization that promotes and exhibits contemporary photography, the Aperture Foundation, holds its annual auction and gala. The program includes a cocktail reception, live auction, and dinner. Artists represented in the auction include Robert Adams, Chuck Close, Bruce Davidson, Nan Goldin, and Sally Mann. Ms. Mann and photographer Gillian Laub, gallery owner Laurence Miller, and philanthropist Joanne Leonhardt Cassullo are among the featured honorees. Tonight, 6:30 p.m., Skylight Studios, 275 Hudson St. at Spring Street, 212-367-3730, call for ticket prices.

TALKS

ART KLATCH The National Academy Museum and artcritical.com host a Review Panel on a selection of exhibits currently showing around the city. Featured panelists include art critics Vincent Katz of Art in America and Linda Yablonsky of Bloomberg News. Among the shows under review are Kara Walker’s “My Complement, My Enemy, My Oppressor, My Love” at the Whitney Museum of American Art; Isaac Julien’s “Western Union: Small Boats” at Metro Pictures, and Kate Shepherd’s exhibit of colorful, abstract work “No Title Here” at Galerie Lelong. A critic for The New York Sun, David Cohen, is moderator of the event. Friday, 6:45 p.m., National Academy Museum, 1083 Fifth Ave. at 89th Street, $5, free for National Academicians, Friends of the Academy, and students.

THE SPOTLESS MIND “Alfred Adler: Understanding His Vision” is co-presented by the Alfred Adler Institute of New York. A colleague of Freud, the Austrian psychologist is credited with advancing the concept of social feeling, a sense of empathy and identification with others. Perhaps his most significant contribution to the field is his introduction of the idea of the “inferiority complex,” which speaks to issues of self-esteem. Psychoanalysts Ellen Mendel and Barbara Berger lead the discussion about why individual psychology is crucial for living in today’s stressful times. Tonight, 7 p.m., 92nd Street Y, 1395 Lexington Ave. at 92nd Street, 212-415-5500, $25.

To submit an event for consideration for the Calendar, please wire the particulars to calendar@nysun.com, placing the date of the event in the subject line.