The Art Box

The Art Box - Episode 386 - Relentless Stories: Ann Steele and the Power of Persistence

In this episode of The Art Box, we welcome Mesquite author Ann Steele, whose life story is as layered and inspiring as the novels she writes. From her early years in Springville, Utah, through nearly two decades with Utah Legal Services, to raising a family and later living abroad in Germany for sixteen years, Ann’s journey is rooted in dedication, curiosity, and quiet determination. Writing has been a constant thread throughout her life, beginning with poetry and short stories and growing into a body of novels shaped by experience, observation, and a deep understanding of human resilience.
Ann shares her path into self-publishing, her experience releasing multiple novels across major digital platforms, and the special family connection of having her son serve as editor for all her books. With her newest novel, Relentless, nearing publication, and more stories already taking shape, Ann embodies what it means to create without stopping. This episode is a celebration of lifelong creativity, strong storytelling voices, and the courage it takes to keep putting your work into the world, one page at a time.
The following ebooks are available for download at the Clark County Library:
-- The Photograph
-- Staring Down the Devil
-- An Uncommon Alliance
-- The Stowaway
Here is a list of places where people can download a copy of Ann's ebooks (the cost is only $2.99):
-- Barnes and Noble
-- Apple Books
-- Smashwords
-- Tolino
-- Cloud Library
-- Odilo
-- Borrow Box
-- Gardners
-- Rakuten Kobo
-- Everand
-- OverDrive
-- Vivlio
-- Fable

The Art Box - Episode 385 - Through the Lens of Wonder: Sue Beauchamp and the Art of Seeing

In this meaningful episode of The Art Box, we sit down with extraordinary photographer Sue Beauchamp, who, along with her husband Mark, made the journey from Las Vegas to Mesquite to share her creative story. Sue’s work is rooted in curiosity, patience, and a deep reverence for light, texture, and moment. Her photography reminds us that beauty isn’t always loud or dramatic; often it lives quietly in subtle shadows, gentle colors, and the spaces where time seems to slow. Our conversation explores how she developed her eye, what draws her to her subjects, and how photography has become both a form of expression and a way of truly seeing the world.
We also talk about the modern tools that help shape today’s photographic storytelling, including digital darkrooms like Adobe Lightroom, and how Sue balances technology with authenticity. From artistic process to creative discipline, this episode is a reflection on presence, observation, and honoring the stories unfolding right in front of us. It’s a warm, inspiring dialogue for anyone who loves art, visual storytelling, and the magic that happens when passion meets patience.
Learn more about Sue at: http://suebeauchamp.com
 
 

The Art Box - Episode 383 - Heart Full of Creativity - A Conversation with Michelle Patrick

In this episode of The Art Box, we’re joined by Michelle Patrick of the Nevada Arts Council for a wide-ranging and deeply personal conversation about a life shaped by creativity. Michelle reflects on growing up with supportive parents who encouraged her artistic path, from listening to her father’s music in the car, to early dance studies and formative years at the famed LaGuardia High School, where young artists are nurtured and challenged to grow.
We explore Michelle’s journey as a participant in the Sundance Institute Directors Lab, her continued expansion as a creative through photography, and her long-standing work building and sustaining creative communities across Nevada. Throughout the conversation, she shares thoughtful insights into why public investment in the arts matters now more than ever.
This episode examines what it truly means to “hold space” for creativity in both urban and rural communities, and how artists, administrators, and advocates can work together to ensure the arts not only survive, but thrive.
Michele mentioned Oliva Dean and we used one of her songs in the background in this episode. You can find out more about Oliva here --> https://soundcloud.com/oliviaadean

Art Box - Episode 384 — Precision Meets Imagination

In this episode of The Art Box, co-host MJ sits down with Justin Gable, founder of Lasermade, a creative studio where technology and craftsmanship come together in striking ways.
Justin shares how he uses advanced laser technology to etch custom images, designs, and text onto metal—transforming everyday objects into deeply personal works of art. From concept to execution, the conversation explores how precision tools can still leave room for creativity, storytelling, and human touch.
The discussion also looks ahead, as Justin talks about expanding his process to include laser-etched glass, opening up new possibilities for artists, designers, and clients seeking unique, lasting expressions.
This episode is a thoughtful look at how modern tools are reshaping creative practice—proving that innovation doesn’t replace artistry, it amplifies it.

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.