MUSICAL CONFIDENCE There's nothing bashful about punk-tinged singer- songwriter April Lavigne (left). Her new live show, "Best Damn Tour," takes its name from her hit CD, Best Damn Thing. Lavigne, traveling with a new band and bringing dancers and debuting choreography to her concert, performs her Michigan show 7 p.m. Saturday, March 22, at the Palace of Auburn Hills. The Canadian, 23, whose career started when she was a teen, has lots to corn- municate with her songs. Four — "Innocence," "Hot," "One of Those Girls" and "Contagious" — were co-written with former bandmate Evan Taubenfeld. Lavigne, whose record sales are in the millions, is joined on this tour by Boys Like Girls, the Boston-based band whose self-titled debut CD was released in 2006. The singer-song-writer says her favorite performance experience is stage work because being close to fans energizes her act. $39.50. (248) 377-0100. HEMINGWAY HAVEN Outdoor adventures in northern Michigan come alive in the writings of Ernest Hemingway, who used his own experiences as the base for fictional narration in The Nick Adams Stories. The corning-of-age tales are at the center of programs planned as part of the Great Michigan Read (2007-2008) sponsored by the Michigan Humanities Council. Besides having programs that encourage Hemingway fans to present their deeply felt impressions of his books, the council also is sending a touring exhibit, "Up North With the Hemingways" (below) throughout the state. The exhibit can be seen March 28-April 14 at the facilities of the Plymouth Community Arts Council, 774 N. Sheldon Road, in Plymouth. Hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, when visitors can view references to original artifacts about Hemingway's life and writings that per- tain to Michigan. The exhibit has four themes: northern Michigan in the early 1900s, the Hemingway family, Ernest Hemingway and The Nick Adams Stories. Accompanying events, which take place at the Plymouth District Library, 223 S. Main St., in Plymouth, include a general discussion at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 19; a presentation by Hemingway scholar Frederic Svoboda at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 2; and a session with the Brown Bag Books Discussion Group at noon Wednesday, April 23. For information on the exhibit, call (734) 416-4278. For information on the library programs, call (734) 453-0750. art exhibits a place for at the BIRMINGHAM BLOOMFIELD ART CENTER O free and open to everyone art O bring friends for wine, art, and fun at all exhibit openings O more than 25 unique shows for 08 O experience new art and new artists your place to gather Michigan Fine Arts Competition presented by HUMANA. a m (,, tr March 14 - April 11 , xs yva aced it most See truly contemporary art from around the state. More than 120 pieces by Michigan artists — all created within the past year. Juried by New York painter Brian Rutenberg. FREE & OPEN TO THE PUBLIC Party Arty Opening Friday, March 14, 6-8 PM Join the region's arts-glitterati at the opening for Michigan Fine Arts Competition. Enjoy wine and refreshments by Whole Foods Market. Meet the artists! FREE & OPEN TO THE PUBLIC BOXED IN: Joseph Cornell, known for his collaged boxes, is the artistic role model for Art In and Out of the Box, a fundraiser for Rochester's Paint Creek Center for the Arts. Area celebrities are being asked to create shadow boxes with found items from their homes, vacations or special interests. The results will be auctioned at a dinner party to be held 7 p.m.-midnight on Saturday, April 5, at La Sala Banquet Hall in Rochester Hills. Live entertainment will be part of the evening attractions. Besides holding exhibits, the center conducts art classes and offers a gift shop. Benefit ticket levels: $90, $110 and $150. (248) 651-4110. Meet Brian Rutenberg Saturday, March 15, 11:30 AM The New York City artist and Fulbright Scholar talks about his work and process, illustrated by slides. FREE & OPEN TO THE PUBLIC Images courtesy of brianrutenbergartcorn. From top: Brian Rutenberg. photo by Hayleysparks.com Brian Rutenberg, Study for Santee Paradise 1, 2007 j Brian Rutenberg, Palmetto Smooth 2, 2007 ❑ E-mail items to Suzanne Chessler at PlatinumPlanner@aol.com . exhibitions presented by CHASE with sponsorship support from Whole Foods and Platinum Magazine CHASE 0 mops platipurn CALLERS II J P Brooks Bouivicamp, vase ARTISTIC. DISTINCTIVE. HANDCRAFTED. BEAUTIFUL. gifts for yourself. gifts for others. support working artists and educational/community programming at the BBAC. BIRNINGS4Alki I ilLCOMFtELD 248.644.0866 Art r MON-THU 9 am - 7 pm, FRI-SAT 9 am - 5 pm 1516 South Cranbrook Road, Birmingham I BBArtCenter.org 1351000 JN platinturt • MARCH 2008 • B23