G2 Gallery

G2 Gallery Graces South Austin's Art Scene
By Sharon Miller

November 2004

As I stepped into the small studio, I could smell the newness of it. The hard wood floors and white walls radiated the smell of freshly cut lumber and made me feel instantly at home. Several photographs hung on the walls and contributed to my feeling of comfort and ease. I was standing in the new G² Art Gallery and admiring the work of October’s featured artist, Mel Sotos.

Hoping to help promote the local art scene, owner and proprietor Elizabeth Fowler, built G² Art Gallery and Studio in her own backyard this past July. The opening of its doors on Friday, October 8th is the realization of a long-time dream for Fowler, one that has traveled with her since leaving Los Angeles a year ago.

Located at 606 ½ Mary Street in South Austin, G² provides local artists with a free place to exhibit their artwork.

“I wanted to provide local artists with a nice place to showcase their work,” Fowler says “it is really bad when you have to show your stuff in a dirty, little closet.”

Although the exhibit changes on the first Friday of every month, the studio is open to the public pretty much any time, or you can simply call to make an appointment.

I will admit, that I am not an art critic, I have never taken an art history class, quite simply, I do not know much about art, however, I do know what I like and dislike, and when I first saw Mel Sotos’ work, I was impressed. In fact, I was more than impressed, I actually liked it. The enlarged photographs, taken on Polaroid 600 film, have a grainy quality that exudes a sense of the familiar, giving you a feeling of nostalgia for the past. I felt them, I enjoyed them, I was comfortable with them. As I slowly studied each photograph, I realized that I had seen some of the scenes before me, a flock of plastic pink flamingoes, a close-up of an electrical tower, a marquee. Whether or not the scenes that were flashing in my memory were actually the scenes depicted in the pictures does not matter, because either way, I connected with them.

Each photograph is $700, although Sotos says the prices are negotiable. Nevertheless, Fowler does not claim any of the profits.

Fowler is not just a supporter of the local art scene; she has designed her studio to be extremely community oriented. In the same gallery where she exhibits the art, she also teaches yoga, Pilates and ballet and she has plans to host weekly Alcoholics Anonymous meetings as well.

If you are interested in showcasing your work at G² Gallery, or would like to participate in any of her classes, contact Fowler at 512-448-1360 or visit her online at www.pilateslady.com.