Industry drives ArtsBusXpress for kids

Art Business News, March, 2003

SAN DIEGO -- Gallery owner Patricia Smith has rallied support from the art and framing industry to enable students to get their first taste of the arts by riding the ArtsBusExpress.

Smith, owner of Art Expressions Gallery, was introduced to fine art during a junior high school field trip to the San Diego Museum of Art. That event sparked a lifelong interest and ultimate career in the art world and the desire to give the same opportunity to other youngsters.

Armed with an idea, Smith, a founding member of the San Diego-Tijuana Sister Cities Society, approached the organization, which agreed to champion the project.

After three years of planning, ArtsBusXpress began to roll last fall with the purpose of providing students with transportation to art programs and events. To date, more than 500 students from seven schools have attended performing and visual arts programs through ArtsBusXpress. Most initial contributions have come from individuals and companies in the region.

"Support from the art and framing industries is helping us go to the next level," said Smith. "Already, Art Business News magazine, Decor magazine, ArtAffairs, Bentley Publishing Group, Crescent Cardboard, Larson-Juhl, La Marche Mouldings and Editions Limited have contributed more than $10,000, and a number of other industry leaders are ready to step up. Since it costs less than $2 per student to provide bus transportation, their contribution will benefit more than 5,000 students"

ArtsBusXpress organizers have put together a prototype plan that will enable other cities to develop similar programs under the ArtsBusXpress banner.

The colorful logo for the project was donated by Ros Hill, a Texas artist represented by Art Expressions Gallery. Hill's whimsical work, which often features jaunty African wildlife presented with his skewed sense of humor, will be on display at Artexpo New York 2003 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.

For more information or to make a contribution, call (619) 687-3562 or visit www.artsbusexpress.org.