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.