At 28 Sal Soto has already been around the block a couple of times. Raised on South Lafayette Street (his parents still live there), the younger Soto used to walk north to "downtown" where the action was. It was a route that took him under the Pennsy railroad elevation and toward the complex of the old Central High School ~ nee Anthis Center and alternative school ~ where he was sent after being dismissed for being "bored" at South Side.

"Coming up the rise after the elevated tracks I would see a red brick building ... there was a stained glass window that caught your attention," recalls Soto. "I remember asking myself what was it that went on in there. I assumed it was just a cathedral-type structure with ceilings that just went on and on. I'm not certain why it struck me, but as I remember it now I somehow developed an attachment with it."

Little did Soto realize that he would one day own that red brick building at 1301 Lafayette Street on the corner of Douglas, let alone reconfigure it into Fort Wayne's edgiest art gallery and home to a successful marketing and translation business he would grow from the roots up.

Soto (DeSoto is okay, too) came armed into the world with a passion for art and the conscience of a fellow born on the other side of the tracks with the will to represent and give voice and space to the underdog or emerging artists.

"I'm not sure anyone anointed me as the gatekeeper of valid artistic expression, but I did study the fundamentals in college, and I think I've a clue about what standards apply ... whether it's coffee house, gallery or museum quality," explained Soto. "Some people may take offense to what I choose to show but as gently as I can I tell them that you need to learn and demonstrate the basics before you choose to change them."

Instrumental in developing his taste were fellow gallery owner and artist David Krouse ("He's an awesome artist and a most appreciated mentor") and former high school teacher and artist Kim Waldschmidt ("She's had a great influence on me with her early encouragement and refined outlook").

Avant Garde means to be at the forefront of action and Soto has in many ways positioned himself and found for himself a spot ahead of the action. The phrase avant garde is derived from the French for vanguard, but it has yet another definition that has to do with effete or snobbery, you know, the whole 'Frog' thing. But Soto in no way suggests that he's such a character; he's adopted the name because it fits: a guy, an entrepreneur, who champions the future for art and vision in Fort Wayne.

After short stints at Vincennes and IU-Bloomington, where he again concentrated on the fine arts and design, Soto realized he wasn't quite ready to settle down to become a full-time, serious student, so he spent a three-year hitch in the Navy where he indeed saw the world while continuing to hone his design skills.

"Mark Twain probably says it best with his line: 'Don't let school interfere with your education.' It's an attitude I found useful to follow. So almost from the time I enlisted I was making use of my talents designing and creating company banners, flags, t-shirts, you name it," he recalls. "Then after boot camp and with the fleet in the Persian Gulf, I was again tapped as the artist on board and was assigned various duties which involved using those same skills."

After finishing his tour in Texas, he was discharged and took a bus directly to Bloomington, where he eventually finished his course work before returning home to Fort Wayne, finding work and consulting opportunities in the social work arena where he again employed his artistic tools incorporating art and design.

"When I began the business and found our first location on Berry, I hung some of my private collection (he began collecting at 23) in the offices," Soto said, "I just felt it was natural to display the pieces so others could enjoy [them], and I've incorporated art in just about every facet of my life.

"Being on the Board of the Fort Wayne Art Museum has been an education in experiencing first hand how much work and money are needed just to curate a single show, let alone an entire season's worth," says Soto. "Being around the museum staff and its curators helped me to develop a broader understanding of what it would take to run a gallery, even from the standpoint of the business-side of things, contracts to protect both artist and collectors, and so on."

Without trying to sound self-serving, Soto points out that Richard Florida's book The Rise of the Creative Class and the author's subsequent appearance a year ago at IPFW followed his own activities which gave real meaning to Florida's tenet of "new ideas in old buildings."

"Face it, even with the proliferation of smaller galleries and venues, 'outsiders' in music and the visual arts have a difficult time getting notice," Soto said. "With this new 3000-foot space it's a great opportunity to showcase emerging arts and show our commitment to highlighting the diversity that exists in Fort Wayne."

Perhaps no better example of Soto's vision will come in the form of Pop Filter, a multimedia event that will present art in a unique and social environment through a fusion of video, music, visual art and drama by local artists that is set for its premier January 17 from 8 p.m. until 4 a.m. at the Avant Garde.

According to an event spokesperson, we are "to expect an overstimulation of the senses similar to Andy Warhol's Exploding Plastic Inevitable, as E4, David Sleep, Chris Colcord, Jeff Moore, John Commorato, Go Dog Go and others showcase their talents."

The first in a projected series, Pop Filter is in part sponsored by Audio Visual Integration, Work Out Room Yoga Studio, One Lucky Guitar Graphic Design, Digital TV and Solstice Coaching. A $5 admission charge includes food prepared by Marlon Lyle of the Oyster Bar. In addition there will be a cash bar from Mad Anthony Brewing Company and coffee from Higher Grounds.

Copyright 2003 Ad Media Inc.