The Art Box

The Art Box - Episode 382 - "Say it Simple, Mean it Deep" with Juan Muniz

In this heartfelt and vibrant episode, The Art Box welcomes Juan Muniz, a celebrated toy designer, muralist, and fine artist whose work blends pop art, pop surrealism, animation, and lowbrow into a style unmistakably his own.
Born in Mexico and raised in Southern California, Juan has spent more than 15 years building an art career that has taken him from Las Vegas and Los Angeles to New York, San Francisco, Japan, and Taipei. At the center of his creative universe is Felipe the Bunny, an anthropomorphic character inspired by the memory of Juan’s brother. Through Felipe and a cast of expressive companions, Juan explores universal emotions, love, joy, anxiety, heartbreak, compassion, and the quiet struggles of being human.
Juan is also deeply committed to art therapy, believing in the healing power of creativity and the ability of visual storytelling to help people process difficult emotions. This dedication informs both his imagery and the gentle emotional honesty found in his work.
With child-like charm, bright palettes, and disarming sincerity, Juan’s paintings invite viewers to connect with their most open-hearted selves. His career extends far beyond galleries; Juan’s characters and visual voice have shaped street art, apparel, toys, and collaborations with global brands including the NBA, UFC, Hard Rock, Cosmopolitan Hotel, Zappos, Don Julio, Pepsi, Sugar Factory, and more. Most recently, he created the fan-favorite “Golden Misfits” characters for the NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights.
Juan’s leap into designer toys produced instant successes such as UHOH, which sold out immediately, and Smile, which won Artist of the Year at the 2017 Designer Toy Awards. Today, his newest originals and character creations continue to find homes in select galleries and with collectors around the world.
Join us for a candid, inspiring conversation about imagination, emotional truth, creative evolution, and the powerful simplicity at the heart of Juan’s philosophy:“Say it simple, mean it deep.”
Find Juan on-line at: https://www.ninobuniworld.com/
https://www.facebook.com/juanmunizart/
 

Episode 381: STEAM to the BIG Vision – with Aaron Weast

In this wide-ranging and inspiring conversation, engineer Aaron Weast joins The Art Box to share how true innovation happens when all parts of S T E A M—Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math—work together as one.
With a pile of patents to his name, Aaron believes the lines between disciplines should blur, because every great idea needs a spark of art, a dash of curiosity, and the courage to ask big questions. Together, we explore why art drives vision, how to develop your “spidey sense” for creative insight, and why no question is ever a dumb one.
We also talk about building pumpkin cannons, nurturing curiosity, and keeping that childlike sense of wonder alive in a world that too often forgets to ask why.
Tune in for a blend of invention, imagination, and insight, a true celebration of STEAM thinking in motion.

The Art Box - Episode 380 - From Desert Dreams to Global Treasures — Baha Imports

In this colorful Art Box episode, MJ sits down with Shawna and Burke Pinto, owners of Baha Imports in Mesquite, Nevada, a vibrant shop where imagination meets artistry and every corner tells a story.
Stocked with creations by regional artists and hand-picked finds from across the world, Baha Imports reflects the Pintos’ shared passion for beauty, community, and heart-centered design. Their shop invites visitors to explore an eclectic selection of indoor and outdoor décor to enhance any home or garden, from Southwest to Desert, Mountains to Lakes, Tropical to Ocean… even Dinosaurs to Aliens!
It’s a joyful celebration of discovery and creativity, proving that at Baha Imports, there truly is something for everyone and it all comes from the heart.
Find them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093408031821
Web site: https://bajaimportsmesquite.com/

The Art Box - Episode 379 - Donkey Dreams: Building a Sanctuary of Hope

For this episode, MJ traveled to Scenic, Arizona to visit Amber and Edj, co-founders of Donkey Dreams Sanctuary, a place where compassion, connection, and the quiet wisdom of donkeys come together.
Donkey Dreams Sanctuary is the manifestation of Amber and Edj’s desire to create environments where donkeys can truly thrive while helping humans deepen their own well-being. After years of guiding people toward emotional and physical wellness, they expanded their circle of care to include donkeys when they learned of the plight of America’s wild burros.
Their dream took root with the birth of two special foals, Pink and Eli, whose arrival inspired the creation of a forever home where rescued and wild-born donkeys can live freely, roaming, playing, and connecting with humans on their own terms.
In this heart-opening conversation, MJ learns how Amber and Edj turned empathy into action, giving displaced and wild burros the life they deserve, and inviting all of us to rediscover gentleness in a world that moves too fast.
Please consider donating to keep this dream alive:  https://donkeydreams.org/donate/
 

The Art Box - Episode 378 - Rescue Dog Hejira: The Art of Living and Writing with Mike Cullinane

In this reflective and delightfully candid conversation, poet Mike Cullinane joins The Art Box to talk about life after deadlines, the beauty of observation, and rediscovering creativity in the second act.
A former journalist turned poet, Cullinane traces his journey from writing postcards and corporate presentations to authoring the poetry chapbook Rescue Dog Hejira and contributing to publications like The Galway Review, Failed Haiku, and Sad Girl Diaries. He shares how discipline, humor, and time have reshaped his relationship with words and how a grandchild’s laughter has become his newest muse.
Together we explore Mike’s intuitive writing process, his affection for Impressionism, modern art, film noir, and the blues, and why he calls the villanelle “the Twizzler Candy of poetry.” From early-morning inspirations to the patience of letting a poem “die on the vine,” Mike reveals the gentle wisdom of someone content to write for the love of it.
This episode is a celebration of quiet artistry, of learning, late in life, that being an artist isn’t about ambition or acclaim, but about paying attention.

The Art Box - Episode 377 - Keeping Curiosity Alive - Meet Francisco Silva

In this inspiring episode of The Art Box, we welcome Francisco Silva, whose passion for astronomy and education left a lasting impression on Steve and his son JT at a recent dark sky program at Avi Kwa Ame National Monument. Francisco serves as Vice President of the Las Vegas Astronomical Society’s Educational Outreach Program, where he helps connect people of all ages to the beauty and science of the night sky.
Their conversation ranges from the value of STEAM education to the “clocks of nature” that shape our world, and how the right approach can ignite an inner fire for learning and discovery. Francisco also talks of his dark sky musical playlist, a poetic nod to the harmony between art, science, and the desert’s nighttime silence.
A reminder that curiosity isn’t just something we teach, it’s something we keep alive, one question and one constellation at a time.
Tune in and rediscover the wonder of looking up.
Enjoy this episode and then follow up next week as Francisco is a guest on our friend Howard Fox's "Outdoor Adventures Series podcast. Sure to be a compelling talk.

The Art Box - Episode 376 - When the Desert Breathes: Stewards of the Earth at Cactus Joe’s

Sometimes the desert has its own plans.
In this short but heartfelt episode, recorded live at the Stewards of the Earth Festival at Cactus Joe’s in Blue Diamond, the skies opened, and the Mojave offered its blessing in the form of steady, cleansing rain.
Join us as we pause to honor that gift and reflect on the power of water in this dry land. With thanks to Kym and Carmen for organizing, Cactus Joe for hosting beneath the cholla and Joshua trees, and Alan O’Neil for guiding a thoughtful discussion on the science and spirit of desert stewardship.
Though the conversation was brief, the message endures:even a storm can remind us why we care for this fragile, magnificent landscape.

The Art Box Episode 375 — “A Dancing Soul” with Sandy Beeler

Join in my ultimately fun conversation with the endlessly creative Sandy Beeler, radio host, theatre producer, muralist, and passionate arts advocate whose energy fuels Northern Nevada’s cultural scene.
By day, Sandy hosts four radio shows across Nevada and New Mexico. By night, she helps keep the arts alive as Vice President of Ghost Light Productions, Secretary of the Elko Art Foundation, and the artist behind Buzzy Bee Art, where her motto is “Helping Your Imagination Come to Life.”
From her award-winning radio theatre productions, including a student-led remake of War of the Worlds, to vibrant murals that transform blank walls into stories, Sandy embodies what it means to live a life powered by art. She shares her journey from drawing with her musician father to earning two Mayor’s Art Awards, and how perseverance, patience, and heart have guided her every step.
Tune in as Sandy talks about performance, painting, and the power of saying yes to inspiration, whether it arrives in the theatre, on the airwaves, or in a can of paint.
Listen now to “A Dancing Soul” — a conversation that proves creativity never stops moving.
Links: https://www.facebook.com/buzybeeart
https://mix967fm.com/
https://www.facebook.com/ghostlightnevada/
https://elkoartfoundation.org/
 

The Art Box - Episode 374 - Where Stories Begin: A Conversation with Summer Wilson

In this episode of The Art Box, we sit down with Summer Wilson, Mesquite author, playwright, and founder of the Virgin Valley Writers Group, to explore the power of storytelling and the courage it takes to give voice to quiet truths. Summer shares her creative journey across Screen writing, poetry and short stories, and how her passion for community has shaped a welcoming home for local writers to grow, share, and belong.
We also discuss her latest collection, Forbidden Whispers, a beautifully woven book of poetry, short stories, and lyrical reflections that invites readers to listen closely, to secrets, to longing, to the quiet strength of the human spirit. Her work is available on Amazon and through other fine booksellers.
Whether you're a seasoned writer or just beginning to explore your creative voice, Summer’s insights into craft, confidence, vulnerability, and building artistic community in the desert will leave you inspired to put pen to paper and whisper your own truths into the world.
Instagram: @summerlwilsom
Facebook: Summer L. Wilson

The Art Box - Episode 373 - Fiddling and Fun On East Fremont.

Join us as The Art Box takes to East Fremont for a whirlwind of music, creativity, and community energy. In this lively episode, we catch the pulse of downtown as fiddles sing, artists share their spark, and passersby jump into the magic of spontaneous art-making. From toe-tapping tunes to heartfelt conversations, we celebrate the joy that happens when art spills into the streets, and everyone becomes part of the show.