Arts Visalia Announces Staff Changes: A new place and a new face

Arts Visalia, a community center for the visual arts, is pleased to introduce its new Executive Director and Assistant Director. Tracy Polkownikow has been promoted to the Executive Director position after 18 months as Assistant Gallery Director. Claudia Gudino was recently hired as the new Assistant Director. Both leaders are committed to the Arts Visalia mission of developing and promoting the visual arts to enhance the quality of life in our community.

Tracy Polkownikow, Executive Director

As Assistant Director, Tracy took the lead to grow the children’s art education programming and enhancing the skillsets of the Arts Visalia children’s art instructors. Gallery visitors viewing the works of the young artists and parents of students applauded the quality of the art classes that Tracy organized. She also played a key role in growing the art workshop experiences for adults, bringing in a variety of artists from the community to teach printmaking, silver jewelry crafting, painting, and artistic business practices. Aside from managing the educational programming, Tracy worked closely with the Gallery Director to learn what really makes Arts Visalia a thriving organization. After accepting the Executive Director position, Tracy dove right in and has successfully implemented the September and October exhibitions.

Tracy is a pen and ink illustrative artist who has been commissioned by both private and public entities since 2006. Her work has been collected by individuals as far away as the Czech Republic and Australia. She is a freelance illustrator and former owner/operator of Genesis Organic Farm which included public outreach, a Community Supported Agricultural program, as well as educational programming for local families on growing food without synthetic amendments. Tracy is working to complete her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Sacramento State University. She is married to the passionately community-oriented Parker Paul and has a persnickety feline for a roommate named Haku.

Tracy’s vision moving forward with Arts Visalia is to continue to provide a platform for a diverse body of artists, including those who may not traditionally have had access to gallery experience. She hopes to reach the rich trove of creatives in Tulare County and open doors for those who may have never considered showing their work in a gallery setting. She is also interested in showing the works of artists who are well practiced in art to expose patrons and other community members to the wider world of visual art. She is dedicated to dismantling the intimidating or traditional views of what an art gallery is and open doors so that visual arts can become an integral part of life for every community member.

Claudia Gudino, Assistant Director

As the new Assistant Director, Claudia Gudino is motivated to continue sharing her love and knowledge of the arts to the community. She believes that few things bring people together more beautifully than art, allowing us to transcend limitations and truly express ourselves in ways we didn’t think were possible. A lover of art and education, Claudia strives to surround herself with the visual and performing arts. As a young child she was blessed to attend Vista Academy for the Visual and Performing arts where she developed her passion for the arts. She made her first pinch pot at the age of 8 and her love for ceramics has only become stronger. She creates pottery to this very day and is still in love with clay.

Claudia has been an active member of the community for over 20 years, teaching CPR classes, leading a local hike, participating in art festivals, and teaching pottery classes. Passionate about sharing knowledge with the community, she founded the California Adventure Group, which helped individuals connect with locals in their cities and towns. She organized hikes in the national parks, art walks in the city, and even rock climbing and skydiving events.

When she’s not “claying” around or working at the gallery, she is out on the lake paddleboarding with her dog Jasper, biking on country roads, or watching the Colombian version of American Ninja Warrior.

Visit ARTS VISALIA, 214 East Oak Avenue, Visalia, California, Wednesdays through Saturdays, Noon to 5:30 p.m.

Follow ARTS VISALIA on Facebook an Instagram and check out our website at www.artsvisalia.org

Contact ARTS VISALIA at 559-739-0905 or artsvisalia@sbcglobal.net

Support ARTS VISALIA, at www.artsvisalia.org/support-us or mail your donation to P.O. Box 251, Visalia, 93279