We had the good fortune of connecting with Anna D. Smith and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Anna D., what are you inspired by?
I am inspired by music, art, unconditional love, and talking to strangers about anything. The ocean, sky and playgrounds (that thing that spins around and around) are places that inspire me.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am a member of The National Association of Realtors®, who owns and operates Anna D. Smith Fine Art and Real Estate Broker. I sell the rare Fine Art of Donald “C-Note” Hooker, the world’s most prolific prison artist. Anna D. Smith Fine Art and Real Estate Broker assists sellers in selling their homes and buyers in securing properties. We also assist art buyers looking to purchase art from the Underground art world. The Underground art world consists of graffiti, Street art, Prison art, Comics, Graphic Novels, Digital art, which includes NFTs, and any other art form that the art establishment does not like. This is why I am known as the “Queen of the Underground art world.” My company’s motto is, “Fine Art Needs a Home and a Home Needs Fine Art.”

My twin brother died in 2018 and my son went to prison in 2019. That’s when I reached out to Donald “C-Note” Hooker through a pen pal site.

I started to admire his intellect and Art as we continued to write to one another.

C-Note’s works have changed lives, saved lives, made history in the Fashion World, and raised millions of dollars. C-Note is an artist, playwright and poet.

I thought that his Art would make a unique contribution to my vision of Hope and Beauty in Silicon Valley and the Bay Area.

I wanted to have the Art of a powerful and soulful man to exhibit my themes on two billboards that I installed. Donald “C-Note” Hooker, the world’s most prolific prisoner artist, aka the “Billboard Banksy” where he made Prison art history by becoming the first prisoner to have his art exhibited on a billboard.

“Look Up!” is a journalistic term to describe works of art on Billboards. It is a new trending phenomenon in the art world, mostly curated by social justice art curators.

From Oct. 17, 2021 – Dec. 15, 2021, I curated “Look Up!” It was of C-Note’s Incarceration Nation, an extremely important piece of art, because it is an image of the 48-contiguous states of the USA, with prison bars going through them. Included in the work are red push pins. These push pins act as red dots to highlight the locations of the state sanctioned deaths of: Travon Martin in Florida; Michael Brown in Missouri; Sandra Bland in Texas; Philando Castile in Minnesota; Freddie Gray in Maryland; Ezell Ford, Wakiesha Wilson, Central California Women’s Facility (CCWF) & Oscars Grant in California; and Charleen Lyles in Washington State.

From Dec. 27, 2021 – Jan. 31, 2022, I curated “Look Up!” 2, Hope and Beauty. It was from C-Note’s Colored Girl Warholed. It was next to Santana Row, our most upscale shopping and residential housing, with the theme of Hope and Beauty.

If you take notice, these outdoor art exhibitions took place during the pandemic, when our citizens were prevented from going into museums or galleries to enjoy art. So, I decided to bring art to them in a safe environment, being respectful of Covid health restrictions.

Donald C-Note Hooker’s Art reminds us we are all grandmothers, mothers, other mothers, daughters, sisters, aunts, nieces and have beauty and dignity.

It seems to me that the culture of discontent is claiming our innocence, and more likely to be exploited rather than elevated.

I just wanted people to feel that they don’t need to be contaminated by all the pessimism and cynicism that’s choking the air around them.

I had hoped that his Art and voice would find the people in Silicon Valley looking up and improvising a jam, smile, and not be stressed, be blessed and have a wonderful day.

It would be a shame not to interplay with the sleepers of today.

Art tells us the plain truths about life and sometimes it just kills me not to see the beautiful things or hear a simple melody, and to know that not all of us are so lucky to have this in our lives.

Thank you for allowing me to allow the world to know about my brand and story.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I have a sweet tooth, so first I would take them to Willow Glen Sweet Shoppe, because they make an ultra rich and creamy, hand-crafted Italian-style ice cream, made with the highest quality ingredients including real California Milk, and sells all kinds of old school candy. The James Lick Observatory where we can overlook Silicon Valley and look into one of the largest telescopes in the world. (It’s cool to look out over the valley and then up to the stars!) Half Moon Bay to get fresh crab. Last but not least I would plan to attend an art gallery or an exhibit.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
California prison artist C-Note

Child Advocates of Silicon Valley, The goal of Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Program is to ensure every child in the Santa Clara County Dependency Court System (foster care) has a caring, stable adult in their life to mitigate the effects of having experienced abuse, neglect, and/or abandonment.

Sajid Khan Deputy Public Defender at Santa Clara County Public Defender who in serving our community, Sajid fights against mass incarceration and for our constitutional rights, and zealously advocates for the humanity of our people and for values of compassion and redemption.

Website: https://adsmith.broker/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adsmithbroker/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-d-smith-5065a2223/

Twitter: @Adsmith.Broker

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@adsmithbroker/videos/

Other: Anna D. Smith’s Fine Art and Real Estate Daily Anna D Smith Fine Art and Real Estate Broker Online Art Gallery

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutDFW is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.