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Bebop Space to Reopen as Art Gallery

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A new art gallery, which will also feature monthly spoken-word performances, will open in late September or early October at the same Reseda location used for eight years by Bebop Records.

The center, Art of the Earth, was established by Melody Cooper, 32, a Burbank artist who has sold pottery and jewelry from her home. Besides her own work, Cooper said she will sell paintings, pottery and sculptures from other San Fernando Valley artists. She said she wants to supply an exhibition space for artists who have not had the opportunity to show their work in other galleries.

In addition, she said she will hold spoken-word shows once a month to fill the void left by the Bebop closing in late June. Bebop’s owner, Richard Bruland, shut the store when he couldn’t afford to keep it open while trying to obtain a cafe entertainment permit. Cooper said the spoken-word performances will be free, removing the need to get a permit.

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“The poets basically need a place to go,” Cooper said. “I’ve been getting so many calls here since Bebop left.”

Cooper said she will not hold rock ‘n’ roll or folk performances because she has no entertainment permit, but she will investigate the possibility of obtaining one.

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