The Art Box

The Art Box - Episode 425 - Take the Leap - Meet Brian Rouff

Today we head into the bright lights and deeper truths of Las Vegas with author Brian Rouff—a writer who has spent decades exploring the thin line between luck and consequence, chance and choice.
From cult classic novels like Dice Angel to his powerful memoir A Long September, Brian takes us behind the scenes of a city built on probability, and reveals the very human stories that live underneath it all.
This is a conversation about storytelling, survival, and what happens when life doesn’t follow the odds.
This episode pairs well with episode 424 where Addie takes us solo through a book suggested by Brian.
Find out more about Brian at: https://brianrouff.com/

The Art Box - Episode 424 – Down Under with Addie: The Phantom Tollbooth (and the Art of Not Being Bored)

In this special solo episode of The Art Box, our always-curious research assistant Addie takes the mic for the very first time, venturing down a literary rabbit hole with The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster.
After a suggestion from Episode 425 guest writer Brian Rouff, Steve sent Addie off on a mission: read the book, unpack its meaning, and see what wisdom might be hiding behind its wonderfully strange characters and wordplay.
What follows is a delightful and thoughtful exploration of Milo’s journey through the Lands Beyond, where boredom gives way to curiosity, language bends in playful ways, and learning becomes an adventure. Along the way, Addie reflects on why this timeless story still resonates, how it challenges the way we think about knowledge and imagination, and why perhaps the most important lesson is simply this: pay attention.
It’s whimsical, insightful, and unmistakably Addie, equal parts charm, curiosity, and just a touch of down-under perspective.
Learn more about Rian Rouff at: https://brianrouff.com/

Episode 409 - Love the Ride: VW Women and the Art of Seeing with Marla Aufmuth

In this episode of The Art Box, we sit down with photographer Marla Aufmuth for a warm and engaging conversation about the craft, business, and heart behind photography. From her early days in a high school darkroom—watching images come to life—to building a career across music, weddings, events, and portraiture, Marla shares how curiosity and problem-solving have shaped her journey.
We explore her evolving relationship with photography—from film to digital—and her thoughtful perspective on technology as a creative tool. Marla also dives into her powerful project Love the Ride, highlighting women and their air-cooled Volkswagens as symbols of individuality, resilience, and freedom in traditionally male-dominated spaces.
It’s a conversation about creativity, connection, and what it really means to sustain a life in the arts—where passion meets persistence, and storytelling lives in every frame.
Please stop by the peruse Marla's current project passion: Love the Ride at: https://www.vwwomen.com/
 
 

The Art Box - Episode 423 - "Traditions of the Heart" with Vanessa Maciel

In this episode of The Art Box, we sit down in the Red Rock Canyon Conservation area visitors center with the incredible paper-mâché artist Vanessa Maciel, a bright light in the Nevada arts community and someone we’ve been hoping to have on the show for quite some time.
Currently serving as Artist in Residence at the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, Vanessa creates remarkable large-scale masks and life-sized figures inspired by folklore, identity, and imagination. But beyond her artwork, it’s her spirit and generosity that truly shine. Through her workshops and outreach, especially with young people, Vanessa is touching lives across Nevada, bringing creativity, confidence, and joy to every space she enters.
In our conversation, we explore her artistic process, the magic of working with humble materials like papier-mâché, and the deep influence of her journey emigrating from Mexico to the United States, an experience that continues to shape the stories she tells through her work.
This is a heartfelt discussion about culture, creativity, and the power of art to connect us, and one we’re especially excited to finally share with you.
Vanessa is also a teaching artist with the Nevada Arts Council:https://www.nvartscouncil.org/directory/teaching-artists/vanessa-maciel-napoles/
Facebook: Mexi Catrina
Instagram: @vanemexicatrina
 
 
 

The Art Box - Episode 422 - She Loves Words - Meet Dawn Amundson

In this episode of The Art Box, Steve sits down with hiker, reader, poet, and lifelong lover of language Dawn Amundson for a conversation that celebrates the simple and powerful beauty of words.
Dawn shares how her connection to reading began almost from the moment she entered the world—a lifelong relationship with books that carried her through careers as a school teacher and librarian, and continues to shape her days today. Whether she’s turning pages, writing poetry, or walking the trails of the Mojave Desert, Dawn brings a deep sense of curiosity and appreciation to everything she does.
A devoted hiker and a thoughtful observer of the world around her, Dawn talks about how nature and language intertwine, how a quiet trail or a desert sunrise can feel like poetry long before it’s ever written down.
When she’s not exploring the desert or immersed in a book, you’ll often find her giving back to the community at the Mesquite Rotary Club Bookstore, helping others discover the joy of reading one $1 book at a time.
This is a warm and reflective conversation about a life shaped by words, the magic of storytelling, and how reading can open doors not just to knowledge, but to connection, imagination, and meaning.

The Art Box - Episode 421 - Serving the Show: Jacqui Thomassen and the Team Sport of Theatre

I absolutely love this episode, Jacqui is such a treasure to our creative communities.
In this episode of The Art Box, Steve sits down with theatre director and technical theatre specialist Jacqui Thomassen to talk about the craft, collaboration, and purpose behind live theatre.
Jacqui shares how what began as a simple bucket-list audition quickly turned into a full-fledged career, eventually leading her to earn a degree in technical theatre and work in a $25-million professional theatre. Along the way she discovered a passion for lighting design and directing, and developed a thoughtful process for building a production from the ground up.
Her approach starts with two powerful questions: “Why this story, and why now?” and “What story do we want to tell the audience?” From there she focuses first on actor relationships and character dynamics before anything else, often finding that once the connections are real, the rest of the performance naturally follows.
Jacqui also describes theatre as “the ultimate team sport,” where everyone, from actors and stage managers to costume dressers and technicians, plays an essential role in bringing a story to life.
It’s a conversation about storytelling, leadership, and the magic that happens when a community comes together to serve the show and create something meaningful for an audience.

The Art Box - Episode 420 - American Nobody: Dreamers, Trails, and the Stories We Tell

In this episode of The Art Box, Steve sits down with filmmaker, entrepreneur, and all-around storyteller Josh Wilson for a wide-ranging conversation that starts with his feature-length independent film American Nobody and quickly wanders into all sorts of unexpected territory.
Josh shares the long road it took to bring the film to life, including building much of his own camera gear when professional equipment was out of reach. From homemade camera jibs and sliders to improvised lighting setups, his story is a reminder that determination and creativity often matter more than a big budget.
But like many good conversations on The Art Box, the road twists and turns. Along the way, Steve and Josh talk about the rugged beauty of the Arizona Strip, exploring trails and public lands, the adventures that come with running a Polaris off-road business, and a powerful near-death experience that shifted how Josh looks at life.
They also reflect on Josh’s first visit to the Virgin Valley Photographic Society, where watching artists at work rekindled something inside him, a reminder that creativity often sparks when we simply place ourselves in rooms where people are making things.
Josh describes himself as both a dreamer and a realist, someone who believes that even when projects are difficult, you still have to find the fun in the process. His advice for aspiring filmmakers? Don’t expect to get your money back, do it because you love the journey.
It’s a lively conversation about filmmaking, resilience, creative curiosity, and the simple truth that sometimes the best stories happen when two people just sit down and chat up a storm.
You can stream American Nobody on Tubu or Amazon Prime. 

The Art Box - Episode 419 - Raising the Top Step: Tom Burns on Opportunity, Growth, and Nevada’s Future

In this episode of The Art Box, Steve sits down with Tom Burns, Executive Director of the Nevada Governor's Office of Economic Development, for a thoughtful conversation about how opportunity grows communities.
Tom shares an idea that has guided much of his work: raising the top step of the stool. When individuals are given the chance to reach higher, through education, opportunity, and economic growth, it lifts families, neighborhoods, and entire communities along with them.
Appointed by Joe Lombardo in 2023, Tom brings decades of experience in business, finance, and civic leadership to the role. A University of Nevada, Reno graduate and longtime Southern Nevada business leader, he reflects on his journey from CPA with Deloitte to commercial insurance executive and community advocate, as well as his service with organizations like the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce and the Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance.
Along the way, the conversation explores Nevada’s evolving economy, the importance of supporting entrepreneurs and communities, and how thoughtful leadership can help build ladders of opportunity for the next generation.
It’s a discussion about growth, possibility, and what it takes to raise the step stool high enough for everyone to climb.
Learn more here: https://goed.nv.gov/
 

The Art Box - Episode 418 – Leigh Ratterman: A “Kinda Cowgirl” Finds Her Voice in Cowboy Poetry

We first discovered Leigh Ratterman during a Poetry Open Mic session at the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko. She stopped by our remote studio at the Elko Convention Center for a quick chat in Episode 405, and we immediately knew there was much more to her story. So we invited her back for a full conversation, and we’re very glad she said yes.
In this episode of The Art Box, Steve visits with Leigh, a cowboy poet from Arlee, Montana whose journey west began in suburban Connecticut after seeing Dances With Wolves as a kid and realizing the wide-open West was where she was meant to be. After eventually making her way to Montana, Leigh dove headfirst into ranch life, community gatherings, and the welcoming world of cowboy poetry. Her often humorous and light-hearted poems capture the perspective of someone learning the ropes a little later in life, bringing curiosity, humility, and a fresh voice to the tradition.
Leigh also shares how her writing became a way to honor her late father, and how the supportive community of cowboy poets has helped her find her voice. Her work bridges the gap between longtime western storytellers and new audiences discovering the craft for the first time.
You can learn more about Leigh on Instagram:@kinda_cowgirl_poetry@leigh_ratterman
 
 

The Art Box - Episode 416 - Ben Larson – New Tales From Old Montana

I first met Montana songwriter, storyteller, and cowboy poet Ben Larson in Elko at the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering, where he appeared in one of our short episodes (Episode 402). It was immediately clear that Ben had far more stories to share, so I reached out and invited him to join us for a full conversation. In this episode, Ben calls in from his home in Philipsburg, Montana, and we explore the winding path that led him from the backwoods of Vermont to a life of music, writing, and storytelling in the rural West.
Ben walks his own trail between western folk music and cowboy poetry, sharing honest stories about family, travel, community, and the people who shape life in small towns. From building a homestead from recycled materials during COVID to performing more than a hundred shows a year across Montana, Ben’s creative life is fueled by curiosity, hard work, and a deep respect for the people and places of the rural West.
It’s a thoughtful, wide-ranging conversation about creativity, storytelling, and the importance of giving voice to communities that are often overlooked.
You can find out more about Ben at: https://www.oldmanben.com/