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Exhibit: Transitions: Portraits of UC Merced's Founding Students by Roger Wyan

2009

Transitions: Portraits of UC Merced's Founding Students by Roger Wyan

An intimate portrait of a formative time in young peoples' lives, Transitions explores, through a series of black and white photographs and interviews, the journey to adulthood during the seminal years of college.

An historical, documentary project by professional photographer Roger J. Wyan, 200 portraits were made of the founding students during the UC Merced's inaugural year in 2005. Now Wyan has returned to re-photograph these same students most of whom are now in their senior year.

By contrasting the freshman and senior photographs in this exhibit, a clear metaphor for the first research university built in the 21st century is evident. As the students have matured, UC Merced itself has also grown up along with them.