C-Pop (gallery)

C-Pop was originally opened in March 1996 by Rick Manore with partners Michael Lask and Marty Geramita in the basement of a former church at 515 S. Lafayette in Royal Oak with a significant initial emphasis on rock posters, but was also associated with and moved towards a focus on less mass-produced art, including the Lowbrow art movement.[1][2] The first exhibit in the space was for Robert Williams in May 1996.[3] The gallery later moved to the David Whitney Building (Suite 313) in Detroit before finally opening in its final location at 4160 Woodward (the former Detroit Bowling & Trophy, in the same block as the Majestic Theater) in September 1999, with a notable sign created by Alex Porbe and significant renovations to the space funded by artist and eventual gallery owner Tom Thewes (son of Compuware co-founder Thomas Thewes).[4] The physical gallery closed in the summer of 2009.[5][6][7]

Amongst the many artists who exhibited at C-Pop were Niagara, Glenn Barr, Mark Dancey, Robert Williams, Shag, and Shepard Fairey [8] The following is an incomplete listing of C-Pop exhibits:[9]

• Robert Williams May 17–June 23, 1996
• Fiction Burn – Glenn Barr 1996 [10]
• All Men are Cremated Equal – Niagara November 1996 [11]
• The Art of Derek Hess March 21, 1997 [12]
• Blinkless Eyes and Fresh Fruit Pies, The Art of the Residents and Steven Cerio May 3, 1997
• Good to the Last Drop – Mark Dancey October 4, 1997
• Nocturnal Planet – Glenn Barr November 22, 1997 [13]
• Faster Niagara, Kill... Kill 1997
• Carne d'Amour / Carne De Amore (Group Show) February 6, 1998 (sometimes references as Carne d'More [10][12]
• Is Schism – Parlangeli Bill Brovold May 2–31, 1998 (final Royal Oak show)
• It's My Party and I'll Die If I Want To – Niagara November 14, 1998
• C Stands For….. (group show) September 25, 1999
• Why Walk When You Can Drive (group) 1999 [10]
• Strangers Have the Best Candy (group) 1999 [10]
• Underbelly – Glenn Barr December 11, 1999 – January 14, 2000
• Cat Scratch Derek – Derek Hess June 3, 2000 (with Glenn Barr "Barcode"?) [10][12]
• Crime Lines – Niagara October 7, 2000
• Cortex of Desire – Glenn Barr and David Sandlin December 2, 2000
• The Leisure Principle – Shag / Allegories: The Fall of Virtue – Isabella Samaras / Hoods & Heaters Pulp Illustrations September 7, 2002
• Tight as a Tourniquet – Derek Hess / Superhero Group Show October 5, 2002 [12]
• They Won't Let Me Be Good – Niagara April 5, 2003
• Flying Circus The Graphic Energy and Inspired Illuminations of Mark Dancey December 6–30, 2003
• Fun House Art Show The Visual Art of Iggy Pop, Ron Asheton & Scott Asheton plus related group show February 7, 2004
• TEN WOMEN ARTISTS FROM THE BOOK: VICIOUS, DELICIOUS, AMBITIOUS; March 6, 2004
• The Silver Opium Series – Niagara November 2005
• Incidental Contact (group show) May 1, 2006
• Obey With Caution The Phenomenology of Shepard Fairey November 1, 2006
• Saints Preserve Us (group show) November 18 – December 18, 2006
• It’s All About © (group show; apparently referred to at times as "The End Is Near") May 1–June 13, 2009 (Final show)

C-Pop hosted various musical acts in its space as well in a limited fashion, including Jack White, the Demolition Doll Rods, and the Time Stereo Noise Camp.[14][15]