As the presidential campaign heats up, the subjects of war, politics and religion feature in several exhibitions around the country this month. Artists Against the War, at the Society of Illustrators in New York, brings together work by 60 artists from around the world. In Los Angeles, paintings from David Sandlin's Wonderfool World, which continues his ongoing project, A Sinner's Progress, appear in two exhibitions. Back in New York, Travis Somerville explores racial and political turmoil as it plays out in the South in Authentic Facsimiles of a Nation. If you're hungry for heated conversation, there's no shortage of grist here. Please check links for details.

Above, left to right: Peace Bomb by Brian Stauffer; Refugees by Tomer Hanuka; Dead Tie by Dale Stephanos. Courtesy of the Society of Illustrators.

NEW YORK, New York, NY
Artists Against the War, featuring work by 60 artists including: Guy Billout, Barry Blitt, Serge Bloch, Steve Brodner, Joe Ciardiello, Seymour Chwast, John Cuneo, Nathan Fox, Milton Glaser, Mirko Ilic, Anita Kunz, Peter Kuper, Edel Rodriguez, Jeffrey Smith, Peter de Seve, Ed Sorel, Brian Stauffer, Ralph Steadman, Sam Weber, and Necdet Yilmaz, among others.
Society of Illustrators
January 3 - January 26, 2008
Artist's reception to benefit Disabled Veterans of America: January 9, 6:00 - 9:00 pm, $20 at the door.
Panel discussion. The Media: The First Casualty in Iraq, moderated by political cartoonist Steve Brodner. January 23, 7:00 pm. Please check website for details.

Empire of This, featuring work by Angela Dufresne, David Humphrey, Medrie MacPhee, Sheila Pepe and Suzanne Wright
Claire Oliver Gallery
January 4 - February 2, 2008

Travis Somerville: Authentic Facsimiles of a Nation
Caren Golden Fine Art
January 4 - February 9, 2008

Cutaway, featuring work by Jasper Sebastian Sturup, Vlatka Horvat, Rachel Howard, and Galdalf Cavan
Anna Kustera Gallery
January 5 - February 15, 2008
Artist's reception: January 10, 6:00 - 8:00 pm

Lauren Simkin Berke: A Text, A Fiction, A Fissured Envelope
A.I.R. Gallery
January 8 - February 2, 2008
Opening reception: January 10, 6;00 - 8:00 pm

The Heart is a Lonely Hunter, featuring work by Shauna Born, Fanny Bostrom, Paul Brainard, Maureen Cavanuagh, Orly Cogan, Jan Dunning, Juno Doran, Brad Kahlhamer, Carol "Riot" Kane, Kris Knight, Kate Kretz, Jason Cole Mager, Ryan McClennan, Sean McDevitt, Emily Roz, and Jeff Wyckoff
31 Grand
January 10 - February 9, 2008
Opening reception: January 10, 7:00 - 9:00 pm

Bwana Spoons: How to Dig a Hole
Giant Robot NY
January 12 - February 13, 2008
Opening reception: January 12, 6:30 - 10:00 pm

Der Bilderklub (The Picture Club): 450 images by a Berlin-based community of illustrators
Gallery Hanahou
January 17 - February 20, 2008
Opening reception: January 17, 6:00 - 9:00 pm

John O'Reilly: Echo, 1965 - 2007
Nancy Jackson: Onward!
Julie Saul Gallery
January 17- February 16, 2008
Opening reception: January 17, 6:00 - 8:00 pm

Jonathan Weiner: Target Practice
Jonathan LeVine Gallery
January 12- February 9, 2008
Opening reception: January 12, 7:00 - 9:00 pm

Works on Paper, featuring Jean-Pierre Arboleda, Olive Ayhens, Deborah Barrett, Dozier Bell, Tim Daly, Jacqueline Gourevitch, Werner Hoeflich, Ruth Marten Rafael Perez, Keiji Shinohara, Saul Steinberg and Charles Yoder, among others
DFN Gallery
Through February 2, 2008

From The New Yorker to Shrek: The Art of William Steig
The Jewish Museum
Through March 16, 2008

BROOKLYN, NY
Kevin Cyr: Looking Both Ways
Pink Elephant Projects
January 4 - February 9, 2008
Opening reception: January 4, 8:00 - 10:00 pm

Human Hair, featuring work by Neil Burke and Sam McPheeters
Cinders Gallery
January 5 - February 3, 2008
Opening reception: January 5, 7:00 - 10:00 pm

Ryan Pfluger: The Male Ideal
Envoy Gallery
January 17 - March 1, 2008
Opening reception: January 18, 6:00 - 8:00 pm

NASHVILLE, TN
New Work by Julia Martin & Emily Leonard
Tag Art Gallery
January 5 - 26, 2008
Opening reception - December 5, 6:00 - 9:00 pm

DETROIT, MI
Sheila Pepe: Drawing in Space
Elaine L. Jacob Gallery
January 11 - March 7, 2008

EAU CLAIRE, WI
Meaning and Metaphor featuring work by Anita Kunz, Guy Billout, Jason Holley and Daniel Bejar
Foster Gallery
January 31 - February 21, 2008
Opening Reception: Thursday January 31, 7:30 - 9:00 pm

PASADENA, CA
Beyond Ultraman: Seven Artists Explore the Vinyl Frontier, featuring work by Gary Baseman, Tim Biskup, David Gonzales, David Horvath, Sun-Min Kim, Brian McCarty and Mark Nagata
Pasadena Museum of California Art
Closing party: January 6, 2008, 3:00 pm

SANTA MONICA, CA
Will Rise, featuring the work by members of The Seventh Letter graffiti collective.
Robert Berman Gallery
January 19 - February 12, 2008

New work by Neil Farber
Richard Heller Gallery
January 5 - February 2, 2008
Opening reception: January 5, 5:00 - 7:00 pm

Above: From the Wonderfool World series by David Sandlin. Courtesy of La Luz de Jesus Gallery.

LOS ANGELES, CA
Work by David Sandlin and Martha Rich
La Luz de Jesus
January 4 - January 27, 2008
Opening reception: January 4, 8:00 - 11:00 pm

Incidental Nature featuring work by kozyndan, Heisuke Kitazawa, and Robert Bellm
Giant Robot 2
January 19 - February 13, 2008
Opening reception: January 19, 6:30 - 10:00 pm

3D, featuring art by Heather Lowe, Abe Fagenson, Perry Hoberman, Claudia Kunin, Franklin Londin, Larry Ferguson, Boris Starosta, Terry Wilson, Levon Parian and RayZon
Black Maria Gallery
January 19 - February 16, 2008
Opening reception: January 19, 7:00 - 10:30 pm

CULVER CITY, CA
New work by Helen Garber
In Gallery II: David Sandlin
Billy Shire Fine Arts
January 12 - February 2, 2008
Opening reception: January 12, 7:00 - 10:00 pm

Henry Lewis & Regino Gonzales: Burning at Both Ends
Corey Helford Gallery
January 5 - 23, 2008
Opening reception: January 5, 7:00 - 10:00 pm

SAN FRANCISCO, CA
20 x 20: The January Show, featuring work by Michelle Blade, Ryan Bubnis, Kelly Tunstall, Ferris Plock, Ryan Jacob Smith, and more.
111 Minna Gallery
January 3 - February 2, 2008

Os Brasileiros: Street and Outsider Art from Brazil
Carmichael Gallery
Part I: January 5 - 17, 2008
Opening reception with live music by Katia Moraes: January 5, 8:00 - midnight
Part II: January 19 - January 27, 2008
Opening reception with Capoerina dance: January 19, 8:00 - midnight

Left Behind featuring work by Ryan Bubnis, Andrew Hem, Deuce Seven, and Lisa Congdon, among others
Suite 111 Gallery
January 11 - February 1, 2008
Opening reception: January 11, 6:00 - 10:00 pm

Caroline Hwang: Salvage
Giant Robot SF
January 12 - February 12, 2008
Opening reception: January 12, 6:30 - 10:00 pm

Ward Schumaker; Books and Drawings
Meridian Gallery
January 24 - March 1, 2008
Opening reception: January 24, 6:00 - 9:00pm

PORTLAND, OR
It's Kind of Endless: Paintings and works on paper by emerging Portland artists
Quality Pictures
Through January 26, 2008