The Art Box

In our little hometown of Mesquite, creativity is always brewing around Mesquite Plaza, especially in the space between Juniper Outpost and the STEAM Center. This is the story of how three friends came together to craft a song that captures the spirit of our town, fueled by laughter, wordplay, and the magic that happens when you bring a talented singer into the mix.
Yes, we know Episode 417 is a bit out of order. Between wrapping up our Cowboy Poetry series and keeping our regular schedule rolling, things got a little… discombobulated. But hey — it’s our podcast, and we reserve the right to shuffle the deck now and then.
So sit back and enjoy Dave Siriani, DJ Van Dyke, and Steve as we chuckle our way through the origins of this little ditty. Stick around until the end to hear our musical masterpiece come to life.
We are really, really. really going to miss Dave and Charlotte and their Juniper Outpost.
 

Recorded live at the 41st National Cowboy Poetry Gathering, this episode of The Art Box features a thoughtful conversation with filmmaker Gary Milliken and his wife Gail about Gary’s evocative film Cowboy Meditations. The film centers on cowboy and poet Dick Gibford, capturing his words, spirit, and reflections on life, the land, and the enduring traditions of the West. Blending poetry, imagery, and the quiet rhythm of cowboy philosophy, the project offers a contemplative bridge between modern audiences and the timeless wisdom of western heritage. Gary shares the inspiration behind the film, the creative journey of bringing Dick’s story to the screen, and why voices like his continue to resonate so deeply today.
Find out more at: https://cowboymeditations.com/
 

In this episode, we ride along with Montana storyteller and musician Ben Larson, whose work lives somewhere between western folk tradition and what he calls interstellar honkytonk. From tales of family, friends, and life on the road to reflections shaped by years spent working outdoors, Ben’s songs and writing capture the spirit of the modern rural West with honesty and heart. Broadcasting from his home base in Philipsburg, Ben has self-published four albums, three nonfiction books, and two poetry collections—and he’s currently on a musical quest to perform in all 56 counties of Montana, with 42 already behind him. You can find Ben at: http://oldmanben.com
 

In an absolute delight of an episode of The Art Box, we sit down with Susan Thiriot, director of the Southern Nevada Symphony Orchestra, as she prepares for the upcoming “A New World” concert on February 28. With over forty years of musical experience and one of the few female conductors in the nation, Thiriot shares her passion for inspiring confidence in young musicians now joining the orchestra in record numbers. Blending seasoned performers with student artists, the ensemble embodies her belief that music brings joy, hope, and unity across generations. For Thiriot, live music isn’t just performance, it’s a soundbath that reorders the chaos of life and awakens something deep within us.
We are so excited for the opening performance, please join us at the Virgin Valley High School 820 Valley View Drive Mesquite, NV 89027 for a Saturday February 28th afternoon matinee at 3 PM. Tickets can be purchased online at: https://www.snsymphony.com/

In Episode 401 of The Art Box, we welcome Jessica Schley, writer, rider, realtor, rancher, and fierce advocate for the land.
Raised on a multigenerational working cattle and horse ranch in California’s Happy Canyon, Jessica grew up steeped in old cowboy stories, ranching traditions, and a deep respect for rangelands. Her latest book, Roots & Resilience: California Ranchers in Their Own Words, brings together the voices of 17 ranchers across the Golden State, weaving stories, poems, and essays that honor both heritage and hard-earned wisdom.
Jessica joins us fresh from the 41st National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko, where she debuted new work and carried forward the tradition of ranch storytelling. As a recipient of the Della Johns Scholarship, named for the Nevada ranch woman who helped found the Gathering, Jessica embodies the strong, steady voice of women whose labor and leadership sustain both family ranches and rural culture.
Beyond the page, Jessica serves on the Legacy Council for the California Rangeland Trust, advocating for collaboration between ranchers and conservationists. With a background in rangeland ecology and land conservation policy from UC Berkeley, she brings both heart and science to the conversation, championing what she calls “Carhartt Conservationism”: finding common ground to steward the land for future generations.
This episode is about roots, resilience, collaboration, and the enduring belief that ranchers are conservationists, storytellers, and essential caretakers of the American West.
Click here to learn more about Jessica: https://www.jessicateonaschley.com/
 

Episode 400 feels like a milestone worth celebrating, and we couldn’t think of a more fitting guest than Gwen Reid, pure solid gold.
Hailing from Placerville, California, Gwen Reid is a cowboy poet whose life has been as full and layered as the stories she tells. A proud mother of nine children, Gwen brings decades of lived experience to the page, crafting poetry that reflects family, faith, grit, humor, and the enduring spirit of the West.
In this special episode, Gwen shares the story of the 49'ers flocking to California to strike it rich.
From ranch life to historical reflection, Gwen’s poems honor tradition while preserving the everyday moments that often matter most. Her voice is steady, warm, and grounded in a deep respect for heritage and community.
Episode 400 is a celebration, of poetry, perseverance, motherhood, storytelling, and the kind of strength that quietly shines. Gwen Reid reminds us that sometimes the richest gold is found in the stories we live and the words we dare to write.
Here’s to 400 episodes, and to the solid gold people who make The Art Box what it is.
In exciting news, Gwen has graciously recorded a very special poem for us that will air on our nation's 250th birthday, July 4, 2026. Thank you Gwen you are an American treasure. 

At the 41st National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko, Nevada, we sit down with Idaho cowboy poet Gary Sisk, a man whose words carry the quiet weight of memory and the warmth of family.
In this heartfelt episode, Gary shares a tender poem about his grandmother, a steady presence in his young life, full of grace, humor, and understanding. With the rhythm of the range and the softness of recollection, Gary tells the story of a time when he probably deserved a little trouble… but instead received mercy. It’s a poem about being “let off the hook,” about unconditional love, and about the kind of wisdom that doesn’t come from lectures, but from lived example.
Episode 399 is a beautiful reminder of the grandmothers who shaped us, the small moments that linger, and the power of poetry to carry love forward across generations.
Settle in, this one will touch your heart.

From memories of Arizona to the wide-open ranges of Utah and Nevada, Kathy Smith carries the West in her bones and in her poetry.
Kathy sits down to share how a fifth-generation ranching upbringing shaped her voice, her grit, and her storytelling. Raised in a world where hard work, heartbreak, humor, and heritage are woven together like rawhide, Kathy draws from lived experience, her own and those of the people she loves, to create poems that feel both personal and universal.
She talks about growing up in a ranching family, the lessons learned under big desert skies, and the quiet strength of women who worked just as hard as any cowboy. With warmth and honesty, Kathy reflects on how she more recently embraced the title of “poet,” not out of ambition, but out of a calling to preserve stories that matter.
Her poems hold both sorrow and joy, the ache of loss, the laughter of family gatherings, the dust of corrals, and the resilience of rural life. At the Gathering, her words land softly and strong, reminding listeners why cowboy poetry remains such a powerful cultural thread in the American West.
Episode 398 is a heartfelt conversation about heritage, identity, and the courage to step forward and claim your voice, even if you didn’t always call yourself a poet.
Saddle up and settle in, this one carries the heart of the range.
You can catch Kathy and her friends performing at the Mesquite Western-Roundup. Show times are Friday February 20th at 7 PM, Saturday February 21st at 1 PM and 7 PM. You can purchase tickets at the Mesquite Community Theatre Box Office located at 150 North Yucca Street or on-line at http://mctnv.com. Admission is $20.
Event sponsors are Desert Gold Reality and the Eureka Casino.

During the Cowboy Poetry Gathering open mic session, Dick Warwick took the stage and recited his powerful piece, “I Fly with the Raven.” It was one of those moments when the room grew still and the words did the flying.

In this episode of The Art Box, we welcome Bridget Hayes, Digital Literacy Specialist with the Sonoma County Library. We first experienced Bridget during the second open mic session and were captivated by the depth and honesty in her poetry.
As an educator passionate about the intersection of people and technology, Bridget shares why libraries are becoming essential spaces for digital awareness and empowerment. She also gives us insight into the innovative programs they’re developing to support learners of all ages in understanding our increasingly algorithm-driven world.
As a special bonus, Bridget recites her poem “Gator Girl,” reminding us that poetry doesn’t have to rhyme to resonate — it simply has to be authentic.
You can follow Bridget on Instagram: @beoutside2writes