Your 5 best bets for arts and culture in the week ahead

'Seeking Justice Through Art'

If pictures speak louder than words, consider Left of Center Art Gallery's new juried exhibit a collective cry of protest from local artists — including exhibit jurors and gallery administrators. There's even a project for those who visit the gallery. A free artists reception and award ceremony will be held from noon-3 p.m. Saturday; the exhibit continues through April 9 from noon-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays. For more information, call 702-647-7378 or visit www.leftofcenterart.org.

Slack-key guitarists

It's two legends in one show as slack-key guitar masters Keola Beamer (who helped launch the '70s revival of Hawaiian slack-key) and award-winning Henry Kapono (formerly half of the '70s rock duo Cecilio and Kapono) bring Hawaii to The Smith Center's Cabaret Jazz at 7 p.m. Friday and 3 and 7 p.m. Saturday; for tickets ($37-$59), call 702-749-2000 or visit www.thesmithcenter.com.

'Animal Grossology'

Fluffy, Fido and their animal pals might not seem so cute and cuddly after you've experienced "Animal Grossology," which opens Saturday at the Discovery Children's Museum, featuring animatronics and animated characters from Sylvia Brazei's gross-out children's book series. "Animal Grossology" continues 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays and noon-5 p.m. Sundays through April 17 at the museum; admission is $14.50. For more information, call 702-382-5437 or visit www.DiscoveryKidsLV.org or www.grossologytour.com.

Songs and stories

Elko to Vegas — not the usual route performers follow, but Dom Flemons is no usual performer. He is co-founder of the Grammy-winning Carolina Chocolate Drops, and Flemons' solo act has taken him from NPR's "Fresh Air" to Elko's 32nd National Cowboy Poetry Gathering on to the Winchester Cultural Center, where he'll perform everything from blues to ragtime (on everything from banjo to harmonica) at 2 p.m. Sunday. For tickets ($10 in advance, $12 the day of the show, call 702-455-7340 or visit www.ClarkCountyNV.gov/parksregistration.

Words and moves

"Dance Art Speaks!" serves up dance and dialogue with award-winning dancer-choreographer Hope Boykin, a 16-year member of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, during a free meet-the-artist session at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the West Las Vegas Library Theatre. Two other Ailey alumni — Bernard H. Gaddis (now artistic director of the Las Vegas Contemporary Dance Theater) and Jeffrey Gerodias — also will participate. For more information, call 702-229-4800 or 702-507-3989 or visit www.artslasvegas.org.