If your weekend plans keep ending with “let’s just get lunch,” give the meal something interesting to follow.

The Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center’s current exhibitions run through October 29, and admission to its exhibits is free.

At 1516 South Cranbrook Road, the BBAC offers a local outing with something to look at, disagree about and keep discussing afterward.

Four shows are on the current roster: Doug Cannell’s Backstories, Kate Donoghue’s Image & Likeness, Meike Rapp-Ullmann’s Blink, and Students of Andrea Tama.

Choose Saturday, October 17, for a weekend visit, or fit the galleries into a weekday break.

Start with a sculpture that has a story

In Backstories, Cannell surrounds sculptures with narratives that can include documents, letters, advertisements and other material.

The artist describes mystery as part of the work: spending time with a piece can reveal more of its story.

That suggests a good way to begin your visit—look first, then read, then look again.

Ask your companion what they thought the object was before learning more about it.

Did a document change the way you understood the sculpture, or make you question the story around it?

Those questions can make the experience engaging without requiring an art-history background.

The Metropole installation image accompanying this story comes from the BBAC’s exhibition page.

Give another show a turn

After Cannell’s installations, choose one of the other exhibitions to spend time with.

Donoghue’s Image & Likeness includes the work She, pictured below.

Artwork: Kate Donoghue, She. Image courtesy of Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center’s exhibition page; photographer not identified there.

Rapp-Ullmann’s Blink and the work shown under Students of Andrea Tama give the visit additional directions to explore.

Rather than racing through every piece, let each person choose something they want to return to.

You might notice a color, a material, a familiar-looking image or simply a work that leaves you curious.

Having different favorites is part of what makes a gallery outing worth sharing.

Try explaining your choice without worrying about finding the correct critical vocabulary.

A Saturday plan with a clear starting point

The BBAC lists gallery hours of 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

The center is just north of 14 Mile Road on Cranbrook Road.

Keep gallery hours in mind when arranging lunch; arriving late in the afternoon would leave less time to explore.

Call 248-644-0866 if you need to confirm a visit or ask about access.

Free admission lets you choose a short visit without needing to make an entire day of it.

Allow yourself enough time to follow a story or revisit a favorite rather than deciding in advance that every room needs equal attention.

Leave room for a little browsing

The Gallery Shop provides another optional stop.

The center says its year-round shop features work by more than 75 artists.

Browsing could introduce you to a maker you want to follow, even if you are not planning a purchase.

If an exhibition piece interests you as a potential purchase, the BBAC invites inquiries during gallery hours.

Send an invitation with something to discover

Share the exhibition page with a friend and propose a time, rather than another open-ended promise to meet.

An art outing can work for someone who already visits galleries or someone who simply wants a new local plan.

You do not need matching tastes to have a good afternoon.

Pick a piece, ask a question and let the conversation continue over that lunch you were already going to arrange.