The Art Box

The Art Box - Episode 258 - " Journey with a Heart: A Conversation with 'Walk of Ages' Author Withanee Andersen "

We had the distinct pleasure of sitting down with Withanee Andersen , co-author of Walk of Ages. Join us for an inspiring conversation as Withanee shares the story behind her incredible 131-mile hike from Mount Whitney, the highest point in the continental U.S., to Badwater Basin, the lowest point in Death Valley National Park. This journey, inspired by her father, Jim Andersen, is as heartfelt as it is extraordinary.
Our wide-ranging discussion touches on the motivations for this grueling trek, the challenges faced along the way—bumps, bruises, wildfires, and oxygen deprivation—as well as moments of joy, engagement rings, French toast, and beer. This episode will make you laugh, bring a tear to your eye, and leave you in awe of Withanee’s determination and humanity. Don’t miss this incredible story!
Withanee Andersen earned her bachelor’s degree from the Reynold’s School of Journalism at the University of Nevada, Reno. Her first published article was included in Sagebrushed: Coming of Age and Working in Nevada. She was a wildland firefighter for many years and is now the communications coordinator for the City of Sparks in Nevada. Jim Andersen (1944–2022) was a freelance writer whose career began in 1980 with Nevada Magazine. He also wrote for the Battle Mountain Bugle and the Reese River Reveille. In 2005, he received first place from the Nevada Press Association for the Best Local Non-Staff Column. He is the author of Lost in Austin: A Nevada Memoir and Sometimes a Great notions, Isn’t, so much. This book is his final work. 
Click here to purchase "Walk of Ages" on Amazon.

The Art Box - Episode 257 - "art FOR them, instead of AT them" - Meet Myranda Bair

I’m genuinely at a loss for words to capture my conversation with Myranda Bair, it was inspiring, delightful, insightful, and so much fun. I wished it could have gone on forever! This is one of those episodes you simply have to experience for yourself. Myranda is truly one of the most remarkable individuals gracing our planet. Thank you, Myranda! Now, everyone, don’t miss this, tune in and enjoy!
Visit Myranda's web page at: https://myrandabair.carbonmade.com/
Instagram @mypandabair
Myranda Bair is an artist, educator, avid rock climber, natural space advocator, animal lover, and mediocre farmer. Her work focuses on conservation and how community education can lead to a richer outdoor experience for all while simultaneously reflecting the importance of preserving natural areas. She received her MFA from the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) and her BFA from the University of Texas at Austin. Myranda has exhibited work across the country and participated in various residences, recent ones including Red Rock Canyon NCA (2014), Wildlife Divide (2013), and The Vermont Studio Center (2012). She continues to partner with the Red Rock Canyon Interpretive Association and the Desert Tortoise Habitat. Currently, she is a faculty member for the College of Southern Nevada in Las Vegas.

The Art Box - Episode 256 "Reimagining the World Through Art" Meet Lauren O'Connell

Steve capped off his trip to Scottsdale with an enlightening visit with Lauren O'Connell, curator of contemporary art at the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA) in Arizona. The inspiring and thought-provoking conversation left him smiling all the way home on the drive back to Mesquite. 
Lauren is a curator, writer, and educator focusing on contemporary art. Lauren previously held positions at San Francisco Museum of Modern Art in the Architecture and Design Department and UC Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive where she organized Architecture of Life (2016) with former director Lawrence Rinder and worked on numerous MATRIX projects and collection shows.​Her curatorial practice is rooted in artist-centric projects that expand and challenge artistic medium, critical dialogue, relational experiences, and art historical cannons. She has worked on special projects with artists including Tarek Atoui, Kristin Bauer, Diedrick Brackens, York Chang, Mimi O Chun, Martin Soto Climent, Otobong Nkanga, Kameelah Janan Rasheed, Jean Shin, Anna Tsouhlarakis, and Qiu Zhijie. O'Connell's research positions contemporary art as an avenue to examine social reality through epistemological examination, speculative and historical (re)formations, mythology, and constructed environments. Her research process involves exhibition-making, artist engagement, and community-building.O'Connell is the author of Language in Times of Miscommunication: Art Critical of Social Reality (SMoCA, 2023) and co-author of Dorothy Fratt: Works (Radius Books, 2023). Her writing can be found in publications including New Time: Art & Feminism in the 21st Century (UC Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive, 2021) and Harvey Quaytman: Against the Static (University of California Press, 2018).
Click here to learn more about Lauren: https://www.loconnell.com/about.html

The Art Box - Episode 255 - "Artful Minds: The Neuroscience of Creativity and Beauty" Meet Laura Hales

Steve had the distinct pleasure of visiting Scottsdale, AZ, to engage in an inspiring conversation with Laura Hales, curator for the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts' Center Gallery. With Linda traveling, our good friend and frequent guest Jen Urso stepped in as co-host. Don’t miss this captivating discussion. Enjoy!
Laura Hales curates Center Space, a community-based art gallery inside Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts. Her goal is to create thought-provoking and educational exhibitions, collaborating with field experts and Arizona-based artists. Recent exhibitions include: Unintended Consequences (2023), a group show about the human destruction of the desert, featuring artists Monica Aissa Martinez, Carolyn Lavender, and Mary Shindell; and Coming to Terms, (2023-24) a group show in collaboration with Dr. Anjan Chatterjee, director of the Penn Center for Neuroaesthetics. She is working on an upcoming exhibition for Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, also with Chatterjee and relating to neuroaesthetics, called Brains and Beauty: At the Intersection of Art and Neuroscience (opening August 2024). Hales has published research articles in Studies in Art Education, a national research journal. She leads arts and wellness programming initiatives at Scottsdale Arts.
Click here to find out more about  “ArtRx: The Mind-Body Connection” and Laura Hales 

The Art Box - Episode 254 - "Wander Woman" Meet Nancy Alain

In this episode of The Art Box, we have the privilege of speaking with Nancy Alain, a Las Vegas-based artist whose powerful work is deeply informed by her 20-year career in the foreign service. Having served in some of the world's most conflict-ridden and impoverished regions, Nancy shares extraordinary stories of how creativity can flourish even amidst war, scarcity, and adversity. Discover how her experiences shaped her artistic vision, the compelling narratives behind her pieces, and how she continues to draw inspiration from the vibrant Las Vegas community. This episode is a testament to resilience, artistry, and the transformative power of imagination—perfect for creators and art lovers alike.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lasvegasarttourism/?hl=en
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063560317733
Nancy's web site: https://nancy-alain.weebly.com/
 
 
 

The Art Box - Episode 252 - Seed in a Grape? - Meet Tony Chavez

Linda and Steve had the absolute pleasure of a wide ranging conversation with Tony Chavez. Tony's interests are varied and inspiring, we chatted about algae based carbon capture, love of our environment, art of manifesting ideas to reality, recycling and he sent us both down a rabbit hole researching Indian mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan. Tony is an ultra interesting guest and you will enjoy this discussion, we sure did.
Tony mentioned Recycled Propaganda and you can learn about them at this link:  https://recycledpropaganda.com/
Tony was introduced to us via his girlfriend Lydia Wolfe who also happens to be our episode 175 - "Treat Life Like Art" guest. 

The Art Box - Episode 253 - "Invisible Space Among All Things" - Meet Pablo

Meet Pablo Gonzales Flores, an extraordinary artist introduced to us by Nancy Good at Core Contemporary. Pablo's work transcends boundaries, drawing inspiration from the vibrant palettes used by American Indigenous creators. His visions are deeply rooted in ancestral traditions, beliefs, Zoomorpism, and knowledge, offering a profound connection to history through his art. Sit back and immerse yourself in this engaging artist talk as Pablo shares his creative passions and unique methods.
Contact Pablo at: https://pablogf.com/
and on Instagram at: @pablo.gonzalezflores

The Art Box - Episode 250 - "Broken Silence" - Meet Clark County Poet Laureate Ms. AyeVee

Mesquite had the honor of hosting Clark County, Nevada Poet Laureate Ms. AyeVee (Ashley Vargas) last Tuesday. She captivated the audience as the November guest for the Brown Bag Cultural Series at the Mesquite Fine Arts Center, followed by a special visit to the Mesquite Works STEAM Center to record the milestone 250th episode of The Art Box podcast.
Steve first connected with Ashley during the creation of the Modern Desert Markings project, an exhibition at the Marjorie Barrick Museum of Art sponsored by Nevadans for Cultural Preservation through grants from the Nevada Arts Council and Nevada Humanities. Her evocative work, Poem for the Ages, was prominently featured in the exhibit and revisited in The Art Box Episode 91.
Ashley "Ms.AyeVee" Vargas is an award-winning Afro-Latina Literary Artist from Las Vegas, Nevada. She is a woman of many hats with a passion for Poetry. Her work has been featured by The legendary All Def Poetry, Write About Now & Button Poetry. She has also been recognized by the Las Vegas Book Festival, Nevada Public Radio, & The US Congress for advancing the cause of literacy & extraordinary literary achievement. In 2022, Ms. AyeVee was selected as an official TEDx speaker for Las Vegas. She also runs a Las Vegas-based poetry organization, Beyond the Neon (@btnpoetry), focusing on poetry-exclusive events and community outreach.
You can follow Ms. AyeVee at: https://linktr.ee/Msayevee 

The Art Box - Episode 251 - From Tin Cans, to A4's to Balloons to Brown, Meet Dean Nakayama

Join us for a special 2024 Veterans Day episode featuring Dean Nakayama as he shares stories from his life before, during, and after his career as a Naval Aviator. Linda spotted Dean on the dance floor at Casa and invited him to join us, and what a fascinating conversation it turned out to be! From his service on the USS Midway and his time with the Naval Weapons Evaluation Facility to piloting balloons and becoming a snowbird in Mesquite, Dean’s journey is filled with incredible experiences, humor, and heart. We’re grateful for this beautiful conversation with an inspiring individual, and we know you’ll enjoy it too. Thank you, Dean, for your service and for sharing your story with us.

The Art Box - Episode 249 - Ambitions, Meet the "Off The Rails" Band

Vintage Guys, Vintage Rock.
The guys from Chicago will be back on stage at the Mesquite Community Theatre on Saturday, November 16 at 7 PM in concert benefitting the Virgin Valley Community Food Bank. Suzie recently gathered them in our Mesquite Works STEAM Center recording studio to chat about their upcoming show, nuns with rulers, growing up in Chicago and how they determine their play list. Drop in for a fun discussion and then buy your tickets on-line at the link below. 
Purchase Tickets Here.