Brett Wesley Gallery cancels tonight’s music series because of copper thieves

By Kristen Peterson

Thursday, July 15, 2010 | 8:09 p.m.

Just when it seems Downtown has had enough bad news for one week, Brett Wesley Gallery takes a hit. The gallery's ongoing chamber music series had to be cancelled Thursday night because copper thieves had damaged the air-conditioning unit.

The thieves hopped the fence and climbed the roof to steal the copper, causing about $3,000 in damage. The gallery's intimate music series rotates in classical, jazz and African music. Thursday's event was to feature cellist Lee Richey and pianist Jack Gaughan, performing works by Rachmaninoff, Mendelsohn, Paganini and Prokofiev. The gallery at 1112 S. Casino Center Blvd., recently installed a piano. Gallery director Victoria Hart said the musicians, who perform with "The Phantom of the Opera" at the Venetian, had taken the evening off to perform this recital. About 40 tickets were reserved and guests were contacted, but the gallery stayed open to offer beverages to those buying tickets at the door. Hart says the theft was caught on video and reported to Metro.

On Sunday a transformer explosion blew out windows in buildings in the Arts District, temporarily shutting down businesses. Later that day a fire destroyed an Opportunity Village thrift store on Main Street, across the street from the transformer explosion. On Wednesday, a fire damaged Alex Rivas Upholstery, also on Main Street.