We're happy to announce the addition of a new educator in the Met's Education & Interpretation department. Please welcome Tanya Horta-Beltran as our second Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) Program Specialist. Tanya began working in the department on October 1, 2007. She comes to the Met with a B.A. in art education from California State University, Los Angeles. She and her family moved to Fresno this summer from Los Angeles.

I asked Tanya about her impressions of Fresno thus far. She told me, “"I imagined all cities to be like Los Angeles and the rural was such a vague concept to me. I like that Fresno is the balance of the two because you can be in the city one minute and in the country a few minutes later. What I like most is that it has given me a new perspective and appreciation of landscape paintings. It is so beautiful and inspiring to drive down Avenue 12 (in Madera) which has given me an insight into country landscape paintings."

Tanya was drawn to the Fresno Met's collaborative approach towards art and science. She said, “"It's interesting how everything has to be proven in science and in art anything can go. I was especially interested in the VTS program because it gives students a positive atmosphere where they can share, build and/or discuss their opinion of the provided artwork. By doing this the students are given the tools to build visual skills that will help in the art world and in other disciplines.”"

I wondered what it was about Los Angeles that was so appealing. Tanya replied, “"I love the murals and graffiti art. I like to see the public artwork and to feel the presence of the people. In Los Angeles everyone is fighting for their voice to be heard and I like to feel the energy. However, I will not return to L.A. to live, for sure to visit, not to live. I am happy with the move to Fresno, the change of scenery and the opportunities Fresno has given me.”"

In terms of her long-term professional goals, Tanya is a visual artist who would like live off her artwork; she also dreams of becoming a university art professor. In her spare time she likes to read, listen to music, and, of course, work on her art. She has a mixed poodle named Paloma who has already made a new pooch friend across the neighbor's fence.

Posted by Teresa España, Director of Education and Interpretation. You can reach her at teresae@fresnomet.org.