ArtsBusXpress is rolling through with one thing in its sight: binational arts education. The San Diego initiative is the idea of San Diego-Tijuana Sister Cities Society and an assortment of other groups. It aims to provide transportation to visual and performing arts experiences for students in official sister cities San Diego and Tijuana.

Patricia Smith, credited with starting the project, was drawn to the idea of sharing art with children by a junior high field trip to the San Diego Museum of Art. That initial spark led her to start Art Expressions Gallery and to commit herself to providing arts education opportunities for youth.

“There are so many issues of art exposure involved,” says Smith, “and all the arts can affect us in so many ways. This has been a dream of mine for a long time.”

So far San Diego City School District students have benefited. Eventually the society wants to include all schools in the city and Tijuana.

Smith admits the Baja aspect has “just had some trouble,” in comparison to the sizable San Diego feat of introducing 1,703 students — 28 buses’ worth — to the creative world.

“The Tijuana portion has been made more difficult what with the state budget and Sept. 11, but the intent is still there: connect cities to cities, and people to people,” Smith says. “Dollars are just needed to facilitate it all.”

Future plans aside, third-grader Amber enjoyed her opportunity just the same. The Angier Elementary School student said this about her visit to the Escondido Center for the Arts: “I like the theater. ... I like the way we came and went.”

— Sam Schramski