Will selling cocktails and booking bands boost crowds at CPOP gallery? The art space on Woodward near Wayne State is making moves toward such changes, and recently fired two of four full-time employees — which CPOP director Mary Harrison calls a “reorganization.”
Recently, CPOP has hosted music shows twice a week. This fall, more music and party events will take place, and the gallery is applying for a liquor license. But CPOP “will never be a bar,” says Harrison.
“I don’t see it as anything that will hamper the gallery,” she says. “Right now, with the economy, I don’t think it’s unusual to hear of layoffs and reorganizations. CPOP’s in good shape.”
There’s no chance the gallery, owned by Tom Thewes Jr., son of Compuware co-founder Tom Thewes Sr., will close, says Harrison, also formerly of Compuware. “Selling artwork is our focus, that is our mission,” says Harrison. Selling beer couldn’t hurt.
Lisa M. Collins is a Metro Times staff writer. E-mail lcollins@metrotimes.com
