One of the most recognizable business spaces in Downtown Turlock has undergone a dramatic change, and it’s one that has caught the eye of several community members for all the right reasons.

On Main Street is an A-frame advertisement with a pink duck sporting sunglasses, directing shoppers to the space at 141 N. Center St. For decades, it was the home of Lightly Used Books, a shop (quite literally) filled to the ceiling with books.

Now, those walls are filled with art.

The Pink Duck is the name of the city’s newest art gallery, owned by Donna Wayman-Maurer, which opened on Aug. 2. The inside is nearly unrecognizable, as the books and bookshelves that have lined the walls were removed once the bookstore closed early this year. On display now are hundreds of art pieces made by Wayman-Maurer and about 20 of her friends and colleagues from around the world.

“I wasn’t looking for the building, the building had to have been looking for me,” Wayman-Maurer joked. “As soon as me and (my husband) Bill looked inside, we could visualize an art gallery. I never knew I wanted my own art gallery, and I never thought of myself as a business owner with my own place. But I guess God led me here.”

Wayman-Maurer may be easy to spot, sporting pink hair, as she described it as a “happy color.” When thinking of names for her art gallery, she knew she wanted something that had pink in the name. And just like she happened to stumble upon the building, she began stumbling across ducks. 

“First it was my stepdaughter, because all of a sudden, a friend gave her a duck. And then my granddaughter, all of a sudden, at school, they were raising baby ducks. Also there are ducks everywhere in town. Everybody had ducks. I thought, ‘Maybe this place should be the Pink Duck.’ And when you think about it, there are no pink ducks in nature, but there can be pink ducks in the art world.”

With a new paint job, flooring, and of course the art, Wayman-Maurer is hoping that her business can become a social hub for community members interested in art and for artists near and far.

And the type of art knows no bounds.

Inside the Pink Duck are Wayman-Maurer’s paintings, many of celebrities and classic cars, while there is also photography, watercolor paintings, woodwork, leather work, jewelry, quilts, woven baskets, sculptures and more on display from a variety of artists.

Some paintings feature animals and other aspects of nature. There are works from famous Navajo artists RC Gorman. Other pieces depict figures in popular culture. Some paintings portray life in foreign countries. Sculptures depict cowboys and athletes. Some have deep meaning, while others were created just for fun. 

“There are a lot of artists here (in the area), a lot of talented people,” she said. “We could do two or three more of these galleries just based on the talent around here, so that’s what I want here, a place for artists to show their work and people to come here and escape, be immersed.”

Through her first two months at the space, Wayman-Maurer has learned that you never know who will walk in and what could catch their eye. 

“The other day, someone purchased a painting from one of the other artists here, and it was so fascinating,” she said. “They just needed it, and sometimes, that’s what happens. You come in just to browse and you never know what will be in here, and you never know what will speak to somebody.

“People connect with art because it makes them feel. That's why it's so important to have spaces like this.”

Wayman-Maurer believes her space is more of a personal experience.

“We’re putting together our website, but even if you see something online and want to buy it, the goal is to get people coming in here,” she said. “We want people to be with the art, learn why they connect with it and for them to know the story and the artists behind each piece.”

In addition to the art on display and for sale, Pink Duck also has supplies on hand. In the back corner of the gallery is Wayman-Maurer’s studio. Near the front door are couches, further emphasizing her goal of making the space a place for people to hang out and share their love of art.

Wayman-Maurer began drawing while in grade school in Montana with the encouragement of a teacher. She soon moved to Las Vegas, where she was introduced to a brand new dessert environment and a bright culture of entertainment. She began dabbling in art professionally while being a stay-at-home mother, before in 1990 discovering the Great Impressions Gallery on South Center Street, a staple in Turlock. She worked as a framer while displaying her art there for five years, learning the business and networking.

“Great Impressions was the only one in town until First Street (Gallery and Frame Company) came along,” she said. “I really did learn a lot.”

In recent years, Wayman-Maurer has been on the road, attending and selling at shows across the nation. After experiencing the art scenes in a number of cities, she sees potential in Downtown Turlock.

Right before heading into the heart of downtown from West Main is the Carnegie Arts Center, and there are art spaces throughout, including the Gallery Finesse across the street from the Pink Duck on Center Street, as well as Paper Moon Stationary and Art Supply on 120 W. Main St.

“I want to make this the place to come to, like Carmel, for art,” she said. “Art brings people together, and I want to help build and be a part of a community like that.”

The Pink Duck is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.