The Art Box

The Art Box - Episode 340 - Crafted Confidence: The Art of Liam Gutierrez

Welcome to The Art Box! I’m your host, MJ Stiles, and today we’re recording from our Mesquite Works STEAM Center studio with someone who’s been lighting up the local art scene since his early teens.
Liam Gutierrez has been a featured artist at Juniper Outpost Boutique in Mesquite, Nevada since he was just 14 years old. Beloved by customers and deeply appreciated by shop owners Charlotte and David, Liam’s work is a staple of the boutique’s vibrant, creative atmosphere. Whether it’s intricate crochet, bold digital designs, or one-of-a-kind jewelry, Liam brings a fearless and joyful approach to everything he creates.
Now, having just graduated high school, Liam is stepping boldly into the professional art world. In his own words: “Hi! My name is Liam Gutierrez, and I'm an artist! Crochet, jewelry making, digital art—there isn't anything that's tripped me up yet! For as long as I can recall, art has been a huge part of my life and who I am. Now that I’ve graduated, I’m ready to enter the professional art world and make a name for myself!”
Today’s episode is all about creative courage, growing up with artistic passion, and what it means to turn that passion into a career. Let’s dive in!

The Art Box - Episode 339 - From Ashes, Roses Bloom - Shannon McConnell's Eaton Fire Story

Welcome to The Art Box. If you're one of our many loyal listeners tuning in from across all 50 states and 59 countries, you know that while we often focus on the arts, we occasionally wander—intentionally—into other realms of creativity, heart, and human experience. After all, we believe that nearly everything in life holds an element of art.
Today, we’re joined once again by our friend and frequent guest, Shannon McConnell, in our recording studio at the Mesquite Works STEAM Center. Shannon is no stranger to our show. As a retired engineer from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, she usually brings us stories of science, engineering, and space exploration. Now living with her husband, Scott,  in St. George, Utah, Shannon continues to enrich our STEAM programs with her insight and passion.
But today’s episode is different.
Shannon opens up about a deeply personal journey, the loss of her family home to the wildfires in Eaton, California. It's a story of survival, of families who escaped with their lives, yet left behind cherished memories and decades of life built within those walls. Through the heartache, there’s also healing, told symbolically through the roses now blooming once again in their new Utah home.
We invite you to listen closely, not just to a story of loss, but to one of resilience, reflection, and the quiet artistry of starting over.
Thank you Shannon and Scott.
The episode picture was taken by Shannon and Scotts son of their front door framing the city of Los Angeles skyline.

The Art Box - Episode 338 - Color, Courage, and Canvas: Melissa Osburg’s Journey into Art and Healing

In this vibrant episode of The Art Box, MJ sits down with her friend and fellow creative spirit, Melissa Osburg, for a wide-ranging and heartfelt conversation about art, healing, and finding joy through color. A self-taught abstract and mixed media artist originally from New Orleans and now based in Texas, Melissa shares how painting became a form of therapy during a challenging time in her life.
Since 2016, Melissa has embraced art not just as an outlet, but as a powerful emotional language, one that allows her to translate anxiety, imagination, and joy into bold, hand-painted works full of life. She opens up about her love of bright, fearless color, and how her work in acrylic, watercolor, oil, and mixed media helps her connect with others through pure visual energy.
Together, MJ and Melissa explore the emotional honesty of abstraction, the transformative power of creativity, and how art can become a guiding light, both for the artist and those who experience it.
Melissa's Etsy Shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/MosburgartStudio?ref=related&from_page=listing&listing_id=1823865807&dd_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F
Melissa is on Instagram @mosburgart
 

The Art Box - Episode 337 - Ara & Juan: Listening to the Dough, Living the Flavor

In this heartwarming episode, Steve had the pleasure of sitting down with his friends, and the dynamic brother-sister duo, Ara and Juan Fernanda, at the Mesquite Works STEAM Center studio. Together, they share the story behind Fat Dough Bakery, where baking is more than a craft, it’s a sensory experience and a service-driven passion.
We journey back to their childhood memories of the aromas and flavors from their hometown bakeries in Mexico and explore how those early impressions shaped their philosophy of baking today. Juan and Ara describe how interpreting a recipe involves more than just measurements, it's about listening, smelling, feeling, and connecting with the dough as it comes to life.
Juan also shares his love for music and how rhythm and creativity flow from his instruments to his ingredients, while Ara reveals her incredible gift for remembering each customer’s favorites, helping guide them to their next culinary delight. Steve also brings up their seamless ability to shift between Spanish and English, an everyday superpower in both kitchen and community.
You can also catch Ara live most mornings on Fat Dough Facebook, where she brings energy and charm to daily updates about what’s fresh at Fat Dough, from pastries and soups to lunch specials.
This episode is filled with warmth, laughter, and the kind of thoughtful storytelling that makes you want to run out for a fresh bolillo and say hello to your local baker. Don’t miss this conversation with two truly sweet humans.
 
 
 
 
 
 

The Art Box - Episode 336 - Meet Emsley's Assistant - Candace Garlock: Layers of Story, Heart, and Ink

Steve was deeply honored to sit down with one of his art heroes, Reno-based artist and professor Candace Garlock, whose generous spirit and boundless creativity make her not only an extraordinary talent, but also one of the kindest souls in the art world.
Candace’s richly layered printmaking and mixed media work delves into memory, identity, and the emotional threads that connect us all. In this conversation, she shares her journey as both an artist and educator, offering thoughtful insights into her creative process, the symbolism in her work, and the personal stories woven into each piece.
From intricate textile patterns to her passionate commitment to teaching at Truckee Meadows Community College, Candace brings depth, intention, and heart to everything she does. We also explore her collaborative work on The Honeycomb project, and how community plays a vital role in her artistic practice.
Whether you’re an art lover, fellow printmaker, or simply curious about the magic of meaningful visual, story telling, this episode is a generous window into the mind and heart of an artist who truly shines.
Find Candace on the web: https://candacenicolgarlock.com/
 
 

The Art Box - Episode 335 - From Wild Grasses to Cast Away: A Literary Ride with Kase Johnstun

In this episode of The Art Box, we welcome back Utah author and longtime friend Kase Johnstun to talk about his powerful new book Cast Away. Co-hosted by published author and Art Box regular Sandi Randelle, the conversation dives deep into the heart of Kase’s storytelling—from the raw truths of Cast Away to the lyrical beauty of his earlier novel Let the Wild Grasses Grow (a personal favorite of Steve’s).
Sandi and Kase spark some fascinating literary insights, discussing craft, theme, and the emotional terrain writers navigate. And yes, we veer off the tracks a bit to explore AI, roller coasters, and everything in between. Buckle up for a thoughtful, funny, and inspiring ride through the world of words (and the occasional loop-de-loop).
We love Torrey House Press and you can find Kase's work there: https://www.torreyhouse.org/kase-johnstun  or on Amazon.
Kase mentioned he teaches writing and you can find out more at: https://lighthousewriters.org/users/kase-johnstun
Note: His next class "Novel 101" starts on July 7th, you have time to enroll. 
I would be remiss if I did not mention that he hosts a podcast or two LITerally and Bourbon, Beer and BOOKS you can find them on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEeGYqH32clCf4D13VGU8-bHZcdcfnMdW
And yes our own Sandi's amazing novels can be found here: Sandi Randelle novels. 
Happy Independence Day 2025 to our loyal listeners.
 

The Art Box - Episode 334 - Why the Humanities Matter—Now More Than Ever

In this special episode of The Art Box, Sandi and Steve sit down with two powerful voices in the humanities: Bobbie Ann Howell from Nevada Humanities and Kase Johnstun from Utah Humanities. Together, they explore the vital role the humanities play in shaping the cultural and civic fabric of underserved and rural communities across the West. In an age of shifting priorities and tightening budgets, their conversation sheds light on what’s at stake when public funding for the humanities is threatened, and what’s lost when stories go untold.
Bobbie Ann and Kase share firsthand examples of how humanities programs, ranging from oral history projects and local exhibits to writing workshops and community conversations, foster connection, identity, and resilience in places often overlooked on the national stage. Whether it’s preserving Indigenous history, amplifying rural voices, or supporting local authors and artists, the humanities provide more than enrichment, they offer a lifeline. This episode is a timely reminder that storytelling, dialogue, and access to cultural resources are not luxuries, but essentials for thriving communities.
Please reach out to your local, state, and national representatives and encourage them to champion and fund the humanities, because access to culture, history, and storytelling should belong to every community.
Donate at Nevada: https://www.nevadahumanities.org/
Donate to Utah: https://utahhumanities.org/
 

The Art Box - Episode 333 - You Are a Light: Chantel Murray’s Journey Through Story

In this heartwarming episode of The Art Box, MJ sits down with children’s book author Chantel Murray, whose children's book You Are a Light, Shine Bright is already lighting up hearts and homes. A devoted mom to two boys, wife to her best friend, and sunset-chaser at heart, Chantel shares how small moments of beauty and kindness inspire her storytelling.
We talk about her mission to help kids discover the light within themselves, her love for life’s quiet wonders, and how she balances writing with motherhood. Join us for an uplifting conversation that reminds us of the power of books to plant seeds of compassion, courage, and joy in young readers.
Click here to purchase "You are Light, Shine Bright"

The Art Box – Episode 332 - Where Art Meets Environment: Astrid Larsen and the EHDI Vision

Welcome to The Art Box Podcast! This is the final of five special episodes recorded on the road in Goldfield, Nevada, a place where creativity meets resilience in the heart of the high desert.
In this episode we sit down with artist and community leader Astrid Larsen, whose creative vision reaches far beyond her own studio walls.
Astrid is a founder of the Esmeralda High Desert Institute (EHDI), a dynamic nonprofit working to organize and grow the arts community in Goldfield and across central Nevada. Through classes, workshops, symposiums, and artist residencies, EHDI cultivates a space where creativity and curiosity thrive. The institute uniquely fosters collaboration between artists and scientists, hosting talks and exhibits that explore the profound connections between art and the high desert environment.
In our conversation, Astrid shares her journey as an artist, her passion for rural revitalization through the arts, and the way Nevada’s stark, wide-open landscapes continue to influence her creative vision. We also ventured into a rich dialogue on radical pondering, the role of imagination, and how A.I. is reshaping the way we think, create, and connect.
Special thanks to the Nevada Arts Council for supporting this remote location visit, and to Main Street Goldfield, Radio Goldfield KGFN 89.1, Rusty Cove Boutique, Sharon Artlip's Rock Shop and the Goldfield Miners Camp RV Park for their warm and generous hospitality.

The Art Box – Episode 331 - Signs, Stanzas, and the Sound of Birds: A Day with Bob Dewhurst

Welcome to The Art Box Podcast! This is the fourth of five special episodes recorded on the road in Goldfield, Nevada, a place where creativity meets resilience in the heart of the high desert.
Our featured guest is Bob Dewhurst—known locally and lovingly as Sign Painter Bob.
With over 50 years of experience painting large-scale signs across San Francisco and the vast stretches of Nevada, Bob shares stories that stretch as far and wide as the landscapes he’s worked in. But his artistry doesn’t stop at the brush—Bob is also an accomplished and published poet, weaving together the visual and the verbal in uniquely Western ways.
We recorded this episode right in Bob’s own yard, where a chorus of birds provided the perfect soundtrack and jets from nearby Nellis Air Force Base occasionally roared overhead—reminders of both the serenity and intensity of life in the high desert.
Join us as we talk with Bob about art, poetry, the history written in hand-painted letters, and what it means to create a life of expressive work in Nevada’s wild and weathered places.
Special thanks to the Nevada Arts Council for supporting this remote location visit, and to Main Street Goldfield, Radio Goldfield KGFN 89.1, Rusty Cove Boutique, Bob's Signs, Sharon Artlip's Rock Shop and the Goldfield Miners Camp RV Park for their warm and generous hospitality.