Art & Around for the period May 10-19

ARCHITECTURE/GARDEN TOURS:

Edsel & Eleanor Ford House Discover the Ford House with all-new tours that go behind the scenes, examine special subjects and provide a new perspective on the family that left an indelible mark on the automotive industry, the arts community and the region. Some advance reservations are required; fees vary. Open Tue.-Sun. Grosse Pointe Shores: 313-884-4222. http://www.fordhouse.org

ARTS FESTIVALS:

Birmingham Fine Arts Festival

Over 200 artists from around North America will come to Birmingham for the annual event that includes live entertainment and a Family Art Activities Center. May 12-13 at Shain Park. Free. Birmingham: 248-644-0866. http://www.bbartcenter.org

ART, HISTORICAL & SCIENCE MUSEUMS:

Arab American National Museum Exhibits: “Juxtaposed!” – a one-man show by Detroit-based Arab American Adnan Charara (through May 31); and “Connections & Contrasts: Detroit’s Arab American Artists” (through May 31). Open Wed.-Sun. Dearborn: 313-582-2266. http://www.arabamericanmuseum.org
Cranbrook Art Museum Exhibits include: “2007 Graduate Degree Exhibition” Through May 11. Open Wed.-Sun. Free with $6 museum admission. Bloomfield Hills: 248-645-3314. http://www.cranbrookart.edu/museum
Cranbrook Institute of Science Permanent exhibits include: “Life Changes Over Time”; “Ice Ages Come And Go”; and “Peoples of the Woodlands: Objects of Great Lakes Native America.” Open daily. $8 museum admission. 248-645-3200. http://science.cranbrook.edu
Detroit Historical Museum Exhibits include: “Treasures of the Collection,” “Fabulous Five: Detroit Music Legends” and “Detroit Then & Now.” Wed.-Sun. $5 admission. Detroit: 313-833-1805. http://www.detroithistorical.org
Detroit Institute of Arts Exhibits include: “Ansel Adams: America’s Treasures from an American Treasure.” Through May 27. Open Wed.-Sun. $10. Detroit: 313-833-4005. http://www.dia.org
Detroit Science Center Exhibit: “Our Body: The Universe Within.” Through May 28. $24.95/adults, $19.95/children; includes general museum admission). Open daily. Detroit: 313-577-8400. http://www.detroitsciencecenter.org
Flint Institute of Arts Exhibits include: “Oscar Bluemner: Drawings.” Through May 27. Tue.-Sun. Flint: 810-234-1695. http://www.flintarts.org
Kresge Art Museum Exhibits include: “Working America: Photographs from the Ewing Galloway Agency, 1910-1950 (through June 17); and “Circus: The Art of the ‘Strange & Curious” (through July 27). Open daily. East Lansing: 517-353-9834. http://www.artmuseum.msu.edu
Longway Planetarium Michigan’s largest planetarium hosts numerous programs and activities for people of all ages. $5/adults, $4/children. Flint: 810-237-3400. http://www.longway.org
Michigan State University Museum Exhibits include: “Workers Culture in Two Nations: South Africa and the United States.” Through Aug. Open daily; free admission. 517-355-2370. http://www.museum.msu.edu
Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit Exhibits: “STUFF: International Contemporary Art from the Collection of Burt Aaron.” Through July 29. Open Wed.-Sun.; free admission. Detroit: 313-832-6622. http://www.mocadetroit.org
Sloan Museum Exhibits include: “Fair Housing in Flint” (through Nov. 4). $6. Open daily. 810-237-3450. http://www.sloanmuseum.com
University of Michigan Museum of Art Exhibits include: “Imagining Eden: Connecting Landscapes.” Through June 3. Open Tue.-Sun. at its temporary UMMA Off/Site location at 1301 South University Avenue. Ann Arbor: 734-763-UMMA. http://www.umma.umich.edu

ART GALLERIES:

Amazwi Contemporary Art A unique gallery that gives voice to a diverse array of African artists, while broadening appreciation of their talent and understanding of their cultures. Saugatuck: 269-857-5551. http://www.amazwi.com
Artcraft Gallery Exhibit: “Message from Life,” featuring the work of DANI. Also exhibiting are David Wickman and Francis LeVeque. Through May 31. Royal Oak: 248-549-9000.
Biddle Gallery Exhibit: “Vessels” by John Albert Murphy (through Aug. 31). Open Mon.-Sat. Wyandotte: 734-281-4779. http://www.biddlegallery.com
Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center Exhibit: “Ray Katz/Metal – 15 Years.” Through June 1. Birmingham: 248-644-0866. http://www.bbartcenter.org
Brown and Juanita C. Ford Gallery Exhibit: “Creative Impulse,” the third annual K-12 student art show. Through May 30. Detroit: 313-496-2570.
Cass Cafe Exhibit: “Disposable Heroes,” new paintings by Ron Zakrin. Through June 16. Open daily. Detroit: 313-831-1400. http://www.casscafe.com
College for Creative Studies Exhibit: CCS’ Student Exhibition,” featuring works of art by 3,500 students. May 11-25. Open daily. Detroit: 313-664-7464. http://www.ccsad.edu
Dell Pryor Gallery Exhibit: “Beyond Perception,” that explores the artists’ bondage to earth/Earth. Through May 31. Open Tue.-Sat. Detroit: 313-833-6990. http://www.dellpryorgalleries.com
Deming Art Studio The annual Spring Open House will offer a unique selection of fine art for home and garden. May 12. Attica: 810-724-2227. http://www.demingartstudio.com
Detroit Artists Market Exhibit: “Annual Detroit Artists Market Scholarship and Exhibition.” Through May 26. Open Tue.-Sat. Detroit: 313-832-8540. http://www.detroitartistsmarket.org
Downriver Council for the Arts Exhibits: landscape paintings by Richard Brinn and Kevin Myers, and clay sculptures by Ginger Scobie in the Home Gallery; and paintings by Christopher Fick in the Skylight Gallery. May 17-June 29. Open Wed.-Sat. 734-287-6103. http://www.downriverarts.org
Gallery Project Exhibits: “Function,” which defines design as structure and utility as aesthetic forms. Through June 17. Open Tue.-Sun. Ann Arbor: 734-997-7012. http://www.thegalleryproject.com
Huntington Galleria Exhibit: The paintings of Karen T. Hale. May 16-June 18. Open Mon.-Sat. Lowell: 616-897-8545. http://www.lowellartscouncil.org
Johanson Charles Gallery Exhibit: “Isolations,” a group photography exhibition presented in cooperation with MOSAIC Productions. Through May 11. Open Tue.-Sat. Detroit: 313-478-6722. http://www.mosaicproductionsgallery.com
Liberal Arts Gallery A unique space offering a revolving exhibit featuring local artists. Open Saturdays and by appointment. Detroit: 313-925-9578. http://www.liberalartsgallery.com
Marygrove College Exhibit: “The Bachelor of Fine Arts Student Degree Show.” Through May 15. Detroit: 313-927-1446. http://www.marygrove.edu/inauguration
Moda Salon Celebrate the six-month anniversary of the salon with “Fixations,” featuring the art of Kostandinos, plus music from DJ Ben Scott and complimentary wine and sushi. May 10. Free. 248-442-4922. http://www.mymodasalon.com
Riverside Arts Center Exhibit: A joint show of bronze figures and photo scenes by C. Malcolm and Marion S. Powers. Through May 20 at the Center’s DTE annex. Open Tue.-Sun. Ypsilanti: 734-480-2787. http://www.riversidearts.org/gallery_powers.htm
Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts West Michigan’s vibrant research and development center for the art of today and tomorrow. Open Tue.-Sun. Grand Rapids: 616 454 3994. http://www.uica.org

DANCE, MUSIC & PERFORMING ARTS:

Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra The Matinee Musicale Daytime Series for senior citizens continues with the A2SO’s brass quintet performing old-time favorites. May 16 at the Jewish Community Center. $7 (includes dessert). 734-994-4801. http://www.a2so.com
Chamber Music Society of Detroit Events include: The Opus 9 series will close with a performance by viola da gamba expert Jordi Savall (May 12, $41-$75); and the concert season will conclude with Grammy Award-winning pianist Yefim Bronfman (May 19, $41-$75). At the Seligman Performing Arts Center on the campus of Detroit Country Day School in Beverly Hills. Farmington Hills: 248-855-6070. http://www.comehearcmsd.org
Detroit Symphony Orchestra The season continues with: Mahler’s “Ressurection,” (May 10-12; $33-$69); Brandford Marsalis and his quartet (May 17; $19-$60); and the DSO Classical Series’ “Znaider Returns” (May 18-19; $25-$69). Orchestra Hall at the Max M. Fisher Music Center. Detroit: 313-576-5111. http://www.detroitsymphony.com
Flint School of Performing Arts The Flint Youth Ballet, Children’s Performance Workshop and Youth Dance Ensemble present the annual Festival of Dance. May 12-13 at UofM-Flint Theatre, Flint. $10. 810-237-7333. http://www.flintinstituteofmusic.org
Lansing Symphony Orchestra Cellist Julie Albers joins the LSO for the final concert of the year, “Hear the Magic.” May 11 at Wharton Center’s Great Hall in East Lansing. $10-$43. Lansing: 517-487-5001. http://www.lansingsymphony.org
Michigan Theater Local music expert James Leonard will give a lecture, “A Wop Bop A Loo Mop Alop Bam Boom: The Life and Music of Little Richard.” May 15 at the Malletts Creek Branch of the Ann Arbor District Library. 734-327-4200. http://www.michtheater.org
MSU College of Music Programs include: Suzuki Strings Spring Concert (May 10 at Community Music School Auditorium; free); and MSU Children’s Choir (May 18 at First Presbyterian Church; $5-$8). East Lansing: 517-355-5340. http://www.music.msu.edu
Saugatuck Center for the Arts Events: Saugatuck’s own Michael Holmes brings his friends Francesca Amari and Mark Kahny for “Tin Pans and Rags,” an evening of Tin Pan Alley and ragtime music (May 12; $20); and classical duo pianists Yuki and Tomoko Mack (May 19; $30). Saugatuck: 269-857-2300. http://www.sc4a.org
University Musical Society Cellist, conductor and humanitarian Mstislav Rostropovich will be honored with the 2007 UMS Distinguished Artist Award at the 12th Annual Ford Honors Program Gala. May 12 in the UM Biomedical Research Science Building. $200. 734-764-8489. http://www.ums.org
Wellspring/Cori Terry & Dancers Events include: The Student Concert of Dance will showcase Wellspring’s modern dance class program (May 10; $3); and the Spring Concert of Music and Dance features five world premieres commissioned by Opus 21 (May 17-20; $20). At the Wellspring Theater at the Epic Center. Kalamazoo: 269-342-4354. http://www.wellspringdance.org

FILM & VIDEO:

Detroit Film Theatre Celebrating 30 years as one of America’s most comprehensive, popular acclaimed showcases of contemporary and classic world cinema. DFT at the Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit. $7.50. 313-833-3237. http://www.dia.org/dft
Emagine Theater The premiere of “Broken,” a feature film directed by Derek Justice of Novi and David DeLeon of Sandusky, Ohio, will take place May 17 at the theater in Novi. The screenplay was among the top 250 finalists in the first season of “Project Greenlight” for Bravo TV. $10. http://www.broken-movie.net
FIA Theater Quality avant-garde, independent and international films that otherwise would not be seen in the Flint area. FIA Theater at the Flint Institute of Arts, Flint. Every weekend, Fri-Sun. $6. 810-234-1695. http://www.flintarts.org
Michigan Theater Ann Arbor’s daily selection of specialty cinema, including documentaries, independent, foreign, and classic films ($8.50). 734-668-TIME. http://www.michtheater.org
The Mitten Movie Project A filmmaking collective that exhibits the work of filmmakers in Michigan on the first Tuesday of every month. Main Art Theatre, Royal Oak. $10. 248-346-8449. http://www.thoughtcollide.com
Redford Theatre An historic 1928 movie house in northwest Detroit with an original Barton Theatre Pipe Organ that presents classic film series, organ concerts and special events in a beautifully restored setting. $4/regular tickets; $5/special movie tickets. 313-537-2560. http://www.redfordtheatre.com
Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts West Michigan’s “best alternative film theater” presents cutting edge movies in Grand Rapids seven days a week. $4-$7. 616 454 3994 . http://www.uica.org

SPOKEN/WRITTEN WORD:

PicNap Poetry Series & Slam Enjoy national and local feature performances, in the city’s most nurturing environment for creative expression every. Every Friday at the Java Exchange Cafe in Detroit’s TechTown. $5-$7. Detroit: 313-822-6456. http://www.picnap-poetry.com
Shaman Drum Bookshop Events for young and old; call for details. Ann Arbor: 734-662-7407.
UICA Writers’ Studio A weekly gathering that provides criticism and inspiration to those whose passion is writing. Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts. Every Wed. beginning at 6:30 p.m. Grand Rapids: 616-454-7000. http://www.uica.org

CLASSES & FUNDRAISERS:

DETROIT OPERA HOUSE – The Summer Dance Intensive returns July 23-Aug. 17, offering a diverse experience for the serious dancer ages 10-25, 313-237-3251; INTERNATIONAL LIBRARY OF POETRY – Over 250 prizes totaling over $100,000 will be awarded this year in the International Open Poetry Contest, check http://www.poetry.com for details.