Patricia Smith - Stacy Smith

Patricia Smith: Art Expressions Gallery/ArtsBusXpress

Art is Patricia Smith's first love and she wanted to find a way to share this with the children of San Diego. She established ArtsBusXpress, a program that offers all school children in San Diego County free transportation to the arts. To date, this nonprofit has provided rides to over 135,000 children. Smith was also one of the founders of Quilt Visions. It is noteworthy that Patricia Smith has successfully run her gallery business for over 25-years, working with collectors, corporate clients and interior designers of some of San Diego's finest homes and offices. Many of the gallery artists have become involved in ArtsBusXpress projects.

Question #1 What is your highlight Visual art experience from the last year?

#1 "While the majority of the programs students have attended have been performing arts, this year ArtsBusXpress and teachers were able to bring children to the visual arts as well. Ocean Beach Elementary School visited the Museum of Photographic Arts. They were encouraged to use cameras that were donated by Art Expressions Gallery and Georges Camera to make their own creations. The best of these will be juried by the artist Monte Nagler and put in a traveling show."

Question #2 What is your vision of the future of the Visual arts for San Diego?

#2 "I dream of a gallery tour for children so they would have a chance to meet the artists who would then discuss their works with the students (our future collectors!) I would like to see all the arts in San Diego reach the highest level so that we could take our rightful place as a first class city of culture."