Downtown Marked By Bold Moves

There are those who believe the power of art and entertainment can transform the cultural diversity, retail sales capacity and overall socioeconomic climate of downtown Merced.

City leaders do, and they consistently base their decisions on similar conclusions found in the Downtown Strategy document.

Creative, business-minded people do, and that's why they hold things like alternative music at the Partisan, jazz at Fernando's, poetry readings at J & R Tacos, comedy at the Off The Shelf bookstore, paintings along with fashion at Divas Accessories.

Residents do, and you see them happily pointing to events like the Merced Art Hop, Cap & Town and Summerfest.

There's no denying that downtown is trying to grow and reinvent itself in the midst of economic misery and competition from larger attractions that in some
cases are found miles and miles away.

Nevertheless, it also seems there's no denying a core group of artists and bohemians who imagine and insist that a vibrant city center is just around the
corner.

It just needs a little push, they say. As the old saying goes,"Fortune favors the bold." When photographer Roger Wyan noticed his landlord clearing out and renovating a large room adjacent to his downtown studio, he jumped at the opportunity to expand.

Wyan — who has operated a portrait studio on top of the corner of Canal and 18th streets for five years —  didn’t see an old service room once used to store unused materials. Rather, he saw a really cool urban landscape complete with original brick, soft natural light entering form large windows that overlook downtown, and all-important access to the roof.

This was his new gallery, he thought at the time.

Today it’s set to become the second private gallery to open up in downtown so far this year.

“I’m not only looking to promote my business,” Wyan says. “I’m looking to promote the arts community in Merced.”

Inspired by the Art Hop, increased UC Merced influence on Main Street and his fellow Canal Street Artists, Wyan says he has come to believe that when a colony
of artists move into a particular urban area, commerce will follow.

He also points to corporations like the Ford Foundation providing millions of dollars in grants to such areas leaning toward the arts.

“This is my way to cooperate with other artistic endeavors that are happening downtown, and at the same time bring attention to my business.”

Wyan’s bread and butter comes from local clients for things like unique school portraits, weddings and commercial projects.

His colleague Jay Sousa, just up the street, is pretty much in the same boat.

But that didn’t st op him from opening up his own “Gallery on the Square” inside Bob Hart Square only a few months ago.

The idea for both men is to create a space to promote their own work, as well as commission out high-end space to sell the work of other artists. A win-win situation, so to speak.

The moves have been well received.

“As the executive director of the Arts Council, I am so proud to support the arts during Merced's era of art expansion,” Staci Santa wrote to the Times this week. “After several recession-clad years of patiently enduring anxiety and struggle, artists now are boldly taking chances to make the arts a critical part of the community's growth. Roger's expansion of his gallery is no exception, and in fact epitomizes the arts movement that I see happening in various ways. From the brand new studio on Bob Hart Square to local businesses infusing the arts to attract new customers, downtown is turing into the place to be inspired, challenged and validated, and to simply take in an environment that is the arts.

Don't miss it.”

Wyan plans a full-on photo exhibition of his own award-winning documentary work, as well as the work of a guest artist for the next Art Hop in July.

Look for other events to be announced. The address is 1812 Canal St., Studio 7.

Private viewings can also be arranged.

“When people go upstairs, I hope they will feel like they are in a different Merced, and a different urban scenario,” Wyan says. “I think they will be surprised to find this hidden gem in Merced.

Let’s hope there will be more where that came from.

Contact Roger Wyan Studios at 383-0171 or email the photographer
at photos@rogerwyan.com.