The Art Box

Artist, musician, mentor, and educator Brian Gibson joins The Art Box for a thoughtful conversation about creativity, compassion, and the power of making art without fear. From painting and experimental music to mentoring young people through creative exploration, Brian shares why curiosity matters more than perfection and why some of life's greatest lessons take years to reveal.
Together we explore the intersection of art and empathy, the role of experimentation, and how even the simplest creative tools can open doors to healing, connection, and self-discovery. It's an inspiring conversation that reminds us that the purpose of art isn't always to provide answers, sometimes it's simply to help us see the world differently.
One day, you will understand.
Instagram: @null_void_art
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brian.gibson.50115
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Brian+Gibson+Goldwell
 
 
 

What does it mean to live a meaningful life? For Las Vegas artist Kim Johnson, the answer is found somewhere between the tangible and the mysterious, the "liminal" space where body and spirit, creativity and purpose, intersect.
In this thoughtful conversation, Kim shares her journey from a creative childhood in Southern Nevada to earning her BFA and pursuing art full time. Along the way, she reflects on the influence of her parents, the challenges of loss and resilience, and why creating art has become a trusted companion through life's most difficult moments.Together we explore distraction and focus, collaboration, the importance of community, and the idea that art can help us better understand ourselves and our place in the universe. Kim discusses the joy of working with everyday materials, the lessons learned through years of community art projects, and why she believes our greatest work often comes when we are in service to others rather than ourselves.
This is a conversation about more than painting. It's about paying attention, embracing wonder, finding beauty in uncertainty, and discovering that a meaningful life is often created one thoughtful moment at a time.
Find Kims art at: http://www.strangedaysandstardust.com/
Instagram: @strangedaysandstardust
 

Cellist, visual artist, and lifelong creative Mark Dudrow joins The Art Box for a thoughtful conversation about choosing a life devoted to art, beauty, and human connection. Inspired by supportive parents, an exceptional art teacher, and a life-changing realization at age twenty, Mark shares how creativity has shaped every chapter of his journey.
Together we explore the joys and challenges of making a living as an artist, the importance of collaboration, the value of uninterrupted creative time, and why Mark believes art isn't about ego, it's a public service. Whether performing music, creating visual art, or bringing humor into everyday life, his goal is simple: help someone have a better day.
It's an inspiring discussion about following your passion, resisting distractions, embracing curiosity, and creating work that enriches the lives of others, one note, one brushstroke, and one smile at a time.
Marks website: Mark Dudrow
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=mark+dudrow
Our opening song for this episode by High Desert Acoustic Duo - Dirtbag Tele Skier

What if our ghost stories aren't really about the dead, but about the parts of history we've never fully faced?
In Episode 464 of The Art Box, Steve welcomes acclaimed author, historian, and researcher Betsy Gaines Quammen for a captivating conversation about curiosity, storytelling, and the American West. Best known for her celebrated books American Zion and True West, Betsy returns with her remarkable new work, This Haunted Land.
Together, they explore Betsy's passion for deep research and the joy of following questions wherever they lead. From abandoned uranium mining communities in Colorado and the centuries-old walls of America's oldest fort to the forests once inhabited by the elusive ivory-billed woodpecker, Betsy reveals how folklore, memory, and haunted places can illuminate the stories our history books sometimes leave behind.
More than a collection of ghost stories, This Haunted Land is an invitation to listen, to landscapes, to forgotten voices, and to the echoes of America's past. It is a thoughtful, sometimes chilling, and ultimately hopeful conversation about history, place, and the enduring power of curiosity.
Join us for an unforgettable episode that reminds us that sometimes the best way to understand the present is to listen carefully to the whispers of the past.
Find Betsy's books at: https://www.betsygainesquammen.com/

Archaeology is about far more than digging in the dirt.
In Episode 463 of The Art Box, Steve welcomes archaeologist and friend Elizabeth Hora, Executive Director of High Desert Heritage and Research, for a fascinating conversation about how ancient landscapes, rock imagery, and cultural artifacts can help us better understand the people who came before us, and our responsibility to those who are here today.
Elizabeth shares how a sixth-grade fascination with Egyptian archaeology eventually led her to the archaeology of the American West, where she studies prehistoric rock imagery by looking beyond the images themselves to the surrounding landscape, plants, animals, sounds, and the ways people once moved through those places. Her work reminds us that every archaeological site is part of a much larger story.
The conversation also explores one of archaeology's most important modern conversations: the respectful repatriation of Native American cultural items. Through her nonprofit, High Desert Heritage and Research, Elizabeth is helping create pathways for individuals who wish to return artifacts to descendant tribal communities while encouraging the public to see these objects not as collectibles, but as meaningful pieces of living cultures and shared human history.
Along the way, Steve and Elizabeth discuss public archaeology, communicating science to broader audiences, and why curiosity remains one of the most important tools an archaeologist can carry into the field.
Whether you're fascinated by ancient civilizations, inspired by the American West, or simply curious about the stories hidden in the landscape around us, this is a conversation that will leave you seeing the past and the present, with new eyes.
Support the High Desert Heritage and Research here: https://www.highdesertheritage.org

I was introduced to Beth Enos and her husband, Will, by our mutual superstar friend, Candace Garlock, during the opening reception of an exhibition at the Brewery Arts Center in Carson City. The three of us hit it off immediately, as if we'd been friends for years. We were fortunate to welcome Will to The Art Box for Episode 453, but Beth had recently undergone shoulder replacement surgery, so we patiently waited until she had recovered enough to join us in the studio.
The wait was well worth it.
In this engaging conversation, Beth shares her remarkable journey from a successful career in Oregon state government to becoming an internationally recognized fine art photographer. After retiring she finally accepted years of encouragement from Will to pick up a camera. What began as a distraction soon became a passion, leading to award-winning work exhibited in galleries and competitions around the world.
Beth talks about why she chose to work almost exclusively in black-and-white photography, explaining how removing color allows her to discover the texture, personality, and quiet beauty—the "bones"—hidden within ordinary subjects. Along the way, we explore creativity, perfectionism, lifelong learning, and the surprising generosity of the artistic community.
You'll also hear the delightful story of how Beth and Will not only built a life together but also happen to share the exact same birthday, a coincidence that inspired one of Addie's signature research breaks.
This is a warm, thoughtful conversation about finding your creative voice later in life, embracing curiosity, and learning that sometimes the greatest art is discovered not by looking farther, but by looking closer.
Learn more about Beth at: https://www.e2-photography.com

One of the greatest joys of hosting The Art Box is the opportunity to meet remarkable people whose stories inspire long after the microphones are turned off. It has been a genuine pleasure getting to know Craig Petersen, and I am honored to welcome him as a guest to share his extraordinary journey with our listeners.
Sometimes the greatest stories begin when life seems to be falling apart.
In Episode 461, Craig joins Steve for an honest and heartfelt conversation about recovery, resilience, and discovering a creative voice later in life. After reaching a personal crossroads, Craig found healing through the simple act of keeping a daily journal, a practice that eventually grew into a blog, his first book, Don't Look Back, You're Not Going That Way, and a renewed purpose in helping others through his words.
Together, they explore the transformative power of writing, the importance of mentors and friendship, the courage it takes to share one's story, and Craig's upcoming book, What Was I Made For? This is a conversation about second chances, faith, creativity, and the remarkable ways a life can be rebuilt, one day, one page, and one story at a time. Whether you're a writer, a reader, or someone facing your own crossroads, you'll leave this episode encouraged by Craig's reminder that it's never too late to begin again.
 
You can find Craig's books on Amazon.

Welcome to a very special edition of The Art Box Podcast, recorded from the Mesquite Works STEAM Center in the Mojave Desert.
Two hundred and fifty years ago, an idea was set into motion, imperfect, evolving, debated, celebrated… and endlessly interpreted through the voices of generations that followed. America has always been more than dates in a textbook or words on fading parchment. It lives in stories. In songs. In poetry. In memory. In the arts.
And tonight, The Art Box gathers together a remarkable group of past guests and creative voices to help us celebrate America’s 250th birthday in the way we know best—through storytelling, music, reflection, and heart.
From Placerville, cowboy poet Gwen Reid joins us with a very special original poem created for this occasion—words shaped by open landscapes, American spirit, and the enduring power of story passed from one generation to the next.
Musician Rachelle McMullin and Lori Dawn bring us her stirring rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner, performed on fiddle and recorded live amid the joyful energy of the spring lawnmower races in Beaver Dam, because perhaps nothing feels more uniquely American than music rising unexpectedly from dust, laughter, and community.
Author Stephen Murray returns to share an essay written by his friend Ralph Champion, offering thoughtful reflections on the meaning of America through the written word.
We are also honored to welcome Dr. Leigh Roessner, Regent of the Virgin Valley Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, who will shine a light on two remarkable female American heroes whose courage and contributions deserve to be remembered as part of our shared national story.
And finally, vocalist DJ VanDyke will close our celebration with her heartfelt rendition of God Bless America, recorded at the Mesquite Library, a reminder that libraries, gathering places, and community voices remain part of the living soul of this country.
At The Art Box, we’ve always believed that art is one of the ways we better understand each other… and perhaps understand our nation a little more clearly too.
So tonight, wherever you may be listening from, we invite you to celebrate not only America’s history. but the creative spirit that continues to shape its future.
Happy 250th birthday, America.

Episode 390 guest Monique Long returns to The Art Box for a deeply personal conversation about identity, creativity, and the remarkable power of believing in yourself.
While our first conversation explored Monique's extraordinary journey through Hollywood as an Emmy Award-winning costume designer, stylist, and creative visionary, this episode takes us deeper into the philosophy behind her celebrated "I AM..." series and the life experiences that continue to shape her work.
Together, we explore what it means to live authentically, embrace vulnerability, and create art that speaks to both the artist and the viewer. Monique shares how curiosity, courage, and an unwavering commitment to personal truth have guided her evolution, from designing costumes that helped tell someone else's story to creating artwork that encourages each of us to discover our own.
The conversation also wanders through creativity, intuition, mentorship, inspiration, and the artists who have influenced her along the way, including the timeless elegance and fearless innovation of Coco Chanel.
Warm, thoughtful, and filled with moments of insight, this episode reminds us that the most meaningful works of art often begin with two simple words:
I am.

What happens when you turn a 1960s vintage bus into an art gallery? You get Gallery RAG Las Vegas, the bold new artist-run exhibition space created by Las Vegas artist, curator, and community builder Laura Esbensen.
In this energetic conversation, Steve sits down with Laura to explore her journey from illustration and photography to sculpture, installation art, and curating projects that challenge the traditional gallery model. Together they discuss creativity, experimentation, the beauty of asking "What do I already have to share?", and Laura's belief that art is a radical act of generosity.
Laura also shares the story behind Gallery RAG, an innovative exhibition space that exists to showcase adventurous work while bringing artists and neighbors together in a welcoming community setting. From the Desert Biennial Project to Art+Everywhere, we explore how collaboration, curiosity, and generosity can transform not only art,but the communities that surround it.
If you've ever believed that great ideas don't have to live inside white walls, or that the best art often begins with a simple question and a willingness to try something new, you'll love this conversation with one of Southern Nevada's most imaginative creative voices.
Find out more: https://www.galleryraglv.com/
https://www.lauraesbensen.com
@lauraesbensen