The Art Box

The Art Box - Episode 135 - Learn to Love Again - Meet Nicky Wangsgard (a.k.a. Billy the King)

This episode started over six months ago while your hosts were volunteering at the ⁠Love Family⁠ Prom and Linda watched Billy the King perform an amazingly athletic pole routine. Linda's jaw dropped and she could be heard all evening, "I wanna do that". Well do that she did, as Nicky Wangsgard (a.k.a. Billy the King) arranged for pole dancing lessons for Linda and afterwards we adjourned to Nicky's house for an incredible podcast interview.
We love a quote from our interview: "That's what we want to do as artists', give somebody hope."
⁠Billy's Face Book Page⁠
 

The Art Box - Episode 146 - Say Yes to Everything - Meet Juniper Outpost's Charlotte and David

Linda and Steve were super excited to sit down the most amazing couple, Charlotte and David Sirignni owners of Juniper Outpost in the Mesquite Plaza. (312 W Mesquite Blvd #114, Mesquite, NV 89027) 
They strive along with their unique vendors to "Make the World a Better Place" with the most incredible array of beautiful art, many of which support those of lesser means through giving organizations. We believe Charlottes statement "Not an Amazon experience" says it all, you must visit to understand.
Sit back and enjoy the next 45 minutes, then hop in the car and visit the Juniper Outpost.
Thank you to our voice of the Art Box Pericles Rellas and our music provided by Kit Pristine.

The Art Box - Episode 145 - "Create A Feeling" Meet February 2024 Artist of the Month Randy Bauman

We were so happy to sit down with February 2024 Artist of the Month Randy Bauman for a ten minute quick episode, thirty minutes later we finished but could have talked for another hour. Randy is an amazing photographer and we were able to dig in on reasons why we love photography. Come visit Randy's exhibit at the Mesquite FIne Arts Center, January 29 until February 23. 

The Art Box - Episode 144 - Saturn's in Your Kitchens and Backyards - Meet Shannon McConnell

This is STEAM Chat episode 005, but we thought we would release it as an Art Box episode in parrallel because space travel and science is Art. Enjoy.
Mesquite Works STEAM Chat was honored to host Shannon McConnell for a stimulating conversation about her career journey at the NASA Jet Propulsion Lab that cemented her love for STEM education which then culminated in her appointment as the Education and Public Engagement Lead for NASA’s Deep Space Network.
We talk about the many projects she was part of: Magellan, Space Shuttle, Cassini and TOPEX/Poseidon, also artificial intelligence, her lead role in NASA collaboration with K-12 education and why there could be no STEA without Mathematics.
Learn more about Shannon: https://www.nasa.gov/image-article/we-are-nasa-shannon-mcconnell-education-public-engagement-lead-nasas-deep-space-network-dsn/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-mcconnell-96a8a530/
https://onegiantleapfoundation.com.au/team-archive/shannon-mcconnell/

The Art Box - Episode 142 - "Show Up" - Meet Nancy Good

Linda and Steve we so super excited to visit with Nancy Good at her Las Vegas studio/gallery 'Core Contemporary'. What an amazing chat about creativity, STEAM, Nancy's many mediums and oh so much more. This is a must listen as is a visit to 'Core Contemporary' 900 Liberace Ave Suite B111, Las Vegas, NV 89109, your eyes and heart will thank you. Learn more about Nancy at: https://www.corecontemporary.com/about.html

The Art Box - Episode 143 - A Haboob in the Hoodoos at the Mesquite Community Theater

The Art Box was invited to travel back in time to Lizard, Nevada 1942. This time there was no train but Steve was blown back via a haboob. 
I had the pleasure of chatting at the Virgin Valley Theatre with the cast (in character) on the stage. As always this group of neighbors, friends and performing artists were funny, talented and at times serious as we chatted about their new melodrama A Haboob in the Hoodoos.  You can find out more and purchase tickets at: https://www.vvtgnv.com/buy-tickets
See you at the show!
 

The Art Box - Episode 141 - Humane Borders - Meet Laurie Cantillo

A life and death struggle occurs daily just south of the cute little artist community of Ajo, Arizona. A small non-profit works to save lives in the Sonoran Desert by strategically placing and maintaining water catchments for those in need. Linda and Steve had the honor of interviewing one of the heroes of Humane Borders, Laurie Cantillo. 

The Art Box - Episode 140 - STEAM Chat - Community Leaders Meet Ann and Burton Weast

Your hosts Linda and Steve are delighted to release our very first 'STEAM Chat' podcast in parrallel on the Art Box. Since 2016 our loving neighbors Ann and Burton Weast have used their energy and skills to help our community find jobs with Mesquite Works. Now Partnering with George Gault they are placing Mesquite on the educational map with their creation "The Mesquite Works STEAM Center" a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) Center that also includes key elements of Art and Agriculture. The mission of the STEAM Center is:
Our mission as the Mesquite STEAM Center is to engage students with hands-on learning within the fields of science, technology, engineering, arts, and math. Students will have the opportunity to learn the necessary skills to find success within their future professions and academic pursuits. 
Our STEAM Center students will be hosting STEAM themed podcasts to bring science, technology, engineering, agriculture, art and math subjects to our listeners. Stay tuned as STEAM Community Radio is also in the works.
Settle back and listen to two Mesquite wonders Ann and Burton.

The Art Box - Episode 139 - Grasses, Code Girls, Mrs O, Utah Humanities Meet Kase Johnstun

Linda and Steve were treated recently with a delightful interview with our friend, award-winning author and essayist Kase Johnstun. Our chat ranged from Craniosynostosis, how he researched and wrote Let the Wild Grasses Grow, dreaming, writing discipline, artificial inreligence, his grand parents, mom and passion for creativity and writing.
More about Kase.
KASE JOHNSTUN lives and writes in Ogden, Utah. Author of Let the Wild Grasses Grow, Beyond the Grip of Craniosynostosis and coeditor of Utah Reflections: Stories from the Wasatch Front, he teaches at the Creative Nonfiction Foundation, the Graduate School in Creative Writing for Southern New Hampshire University, Barton Community College, and Weber State University. His essay collection Tortillas for Honkies was a finalist for the Autumn House Press Nonfiction Award, and his work has been published in Label Me Latino/a, Creative Nonfiction, The Watershed Review, and elsewhere. He holds an MA in Creative Writing and Literature from Kansas State University and an MFA in Creative Writing from Pacific University. You can find him running on the trails of the Rocky Mountains along the face of the Wasatch Front.
You can find Kase's work at: http://kasejohnstun.com/

The Art Box - Episode 138 - ”Building An Art Community” - Meet Lynn Maguire

Linda had to track down her friend Lynn Maguire on Rust Island, MA, 2,666 miles away for this episode. Lynn has embarked on creating an art community that is afforable, allows for unbridle creativity, healthy habits, and fosters great friendships. Grab a good wine, open Spotify on your smart phone and settle in for a fun chat about art.
Find Lynn and her Snug Harbor Studio on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/snug_harbor_studio/
You can email Lynn at: SnugHarborStudio@gmail.com
Snug Harbor Studio opening announcement: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cyt5cz1RPYR/