Cien Ojos Studio — a unique gathering and collaboration spot for local artists — is approaching its one year anniversary on March 22.
The studio is located at 1740 Canal Street in an upstairs, quintessential art studio flat. It’s a multi-use space where painters, photographers, and ceramic artists gather to discuss their work and inspirations, and hear viewpoints from community art supporters. Visitors are welcome during regular hours when coffee is brewing, local merchandise is on display for purchase, and upcoming events are being posted. And, of course, there’s always some great art to experience.
Cien Ojos — which translates to “100 Eyes” — was made possible through a partnership between Joel Aguilar (artist), Patty Pratt (artist), Earvin Mendoza (photographer/videographer), El Cid Coffee (coffee roaster) and “Lester” (the audio engineer) who were all desperate to grow their reach as artists as well as expand the possibilities of other aspiring artists in the area.
In the past year, not only has the space itself improved and developed, so has this collective’s presence within Merced’s art community through constant event planning and support of other local artists.
“I think my favorite community event by far was the Mural Unveiling & Pool Party at McNamara Park,” Mendoza told the Times. “It was an all-day event. It started with our Morning Photo Walk Downtown by the Central Valley Film Club. Once the walk was over, we brought everyone to McNamara park to our Mural Unveiling where the Kreepy Kawaii gallery and Joel Aguilar showcased their amazing work. They also rented out the public pool so it can be free for everyone. We had free paletas (ice cream), and Joel Aguilar gave away basketballs to the kids in attendance. And Third Hour Collective had the vibes ready with some music.”
Pratt said she was incredibly sentimental when reflecting on the space thus far, saying: “Cien Ojos is a living space. When you walk inside and see your peers enjoying themselves and excited about what they are doing, it feels like a family gathering more than just a business. We are watching people advance their skills and careers in real time. It’s inspiring and it makes the work worth it. … My ultimate goal is to foster our creative careers in Merced and make art a social activity for the public.”
Co-Owner Joel Aguilar (a.k.a Gamut), shared a similar sentiment: “This place gives me a sense of accomplishment and belonging. As an artist, I often feel as if I don’t matter, my art doesn’t matter, but I’m finding myself and see how my willingness through art is creating an impact. This space is now a hub for others to never feel alone.”
New this year, the art space founders are introducing a membership program called “Open Ojos” which allows a limited number of artists to use the studio space “to create, edit, or simply focus” exclusively on two nights of the week, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Perks include free Wi-Fi, creative amenities, and discounts for future events.
Says Pratt, “I’m looking forward to Open Ojos, which is a creative co-work space. Working in an environment with other artists and business minded people helps with progression, knowledge sharing, and accountability. So far, Merced hasn’t had a venue where this has been offered or explored.”