A new Midtown art gallery is looking to stand out with live art demonstrations and a high-end, contemporary feel while still offering art in all price ranges.

J27 Gallery, 2728 J St., opened June 1 and is owned by artists Michael Shane and Susan Rabinovitz, who previously showed their art at the Sacramento Art Complex/Gallery 2110 at 2110 K St. This is the first time either artist has opened a gallery.

“We’d been thinking about it for about two and a half months, and when we saw this place, it was a no-brainer,” Shane said.

The approximately 1,000-square-foot gallery was previously a pizza-by-the-slice restaurant called Papi's Pizza.

Shane, 43, sticks mostly to acrylic on canvas artwork while Rabinovitz, 40, hand-makes jewelry. The two show their art at the gallery as well as about 15 other artists’ on a permanent basis, with featured artists every month and weekly outdoor shows.

“It’s all local artists,” Shane said, adding that most of them come from a 25-mile radius of Sacramento. “We want it to be an upbeat, upscale gallery and not just a Second Saturday gallery.”

To stand out, Shane said the gallery has artists showing their work on the front sidewalk facing J Street on Fridays and Saturdays. Featured artists who come into the gallery for receptions on the second Thursday of each month, and live art demonstrations such as the recent installation of an artistic bicycle rack.

Rabinovitz said she is excited to offer live art demonstrations, such as welding and glass-blowing, and partnering with neighboring businesses to create more of a draw to the area.

She said she is working on a live art demonstration that will coincide with the opening of BarWest Burgers & Wings, which is scheduled to go in next door to the gallery.

Well-known local artists who have work in the gallery include Eric Decetis, whose cartoons were published in Penthouse and Hustler, and Steve Memering, who does local scenes, with paintings of places such as Rick’s Dessert Diner currently hanging in the gallery.

“We’re the only gallery in the world authorized to sell Eric Decetis’ originals,” Shane said.

Decetis' works were recently shown in a temporary show in Midtown.

Shane added that he wants to keep the work in the gallery fresh, so even if an artist is well-known, he and Rabinovitz don’t look to carry works that have been previously shown in the area.

Rabinovitz said one artist whose work she is excited to carry is Christine Conklin, who does ink-on-wood works.

“She takes slices of wood and has all these amazing female characters she does in ink and puts resin over it,” Rabinovitz said. “I don’t think you see anyone paint on wood like that, at least not at her level.”

Rabinovitz added that Conklin also does hairstyling for the Music Circus.

Despite the air of exclusivity, Shane said all visitors are welcome, including kids and dogs, and art pieces range from cards for a few dollars to $3,000 paintings.

“Maybe they see one of Eric Decetis’ originals, but they don’t have the money for it. They can buy a print of a card,” Shane said.

He said he thinks the wide price range will help the gallery stay successful in an economy that has seen arts organizations and artists struggling to survive.

“I’m not worried,” he said, adding that his more than 20 years owning and operating Universal Shipping – a freight brokerage he now operates from a computer in the gallery – has given him the experience needed to where running a business just feels natural.

The gallery is also aiming to help the nonprofit Sacramento Artists Council, of which Rabinovitz is founder and executive director.

Monthly wine and beer tastings held in the gallery will benefit the organization and provide a place for the public to mingle and appreciate art, she said.

The gallery’s interior is decorated with a contemporary feel: red ceiling, exposed air conditioning ducts, track lighting and cement floors. The gray walls are neutral so as to better show off the art, Shane said.

Grass Valley artist Linda Neely, 49, was showing her surrealist charcoal and oil on canvas works in front of the gallery Friday afternoon.

“I think it’s amazing,” she said of the gallery. “The outdoor shows give people a chance to walk by and see art they wouldn’t have known about.”

She said that while several people came to see her work, she was able to meet others who walked through the area, which includes several restaurants and a night club, with a community center across the street.

“The gallery is well-lit and modern, she said. “I love how open it is, and all the different kinds of work.”

Neely, who recently graduated from Sacramento State with an arts degree, said she has been an artist her whole life and wants to work with J27 Gallery again.

The gallery is booked for artists and shows through November, Shane said.

Memering will be next month’s featured artist, and a reception will be held from 6 - 10 p.m. Aug. 11. Also featured next month is artist Farrell Hamaan, who got his start with Faberge eggs but will be showing his sculptures.

J27 Gallery is open 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 - 7 p.m. Sunday. Artists interested in showing work at the gallery can contact Shane and Rabinovitz through the website.

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow him on Twitter @Brandon_Darnell.