The Art Box

The Art Box - Episode 14 - Ten Minutes with Americans for the Arts - National Arts & Humanities Month

October is National Arts & Humanities Month (NAHM)—a collective recognition of the importance of culture in America with a focus on equitable access to the arts, encouraging communities to participate in the arts, allowing governments and businesses to show support for the arts, and raising public awareness about the positive impact of the arts and humanities in our lives.
The arts are a national asset and should be available everywhere to everyone—and while a majority of the public believes this based on public opinion polling and other research, it’s often not their default way of thinking about the arts. National Arts & Humanities Month is an opportunity for everyone to help change public perception and promote the crucial role of the arts and humanities in promoting individual wellbeing, addressing trauma, connecting cultures, highlighting inequities, and making our communities healthier and stronger.
Whether you’ve participated before or want to get involved for the first time, it’s easy to be part of the celebration! You can join in the daily #ShowYourArt2022 Instagram challenge, vote for a favorite NAHM poster design created by artists in communities across the country, or attend and participate in cultural experiences wherever you live. Spread the word about National Arts & Humanities Month on social media using #NAHM—and invite your friends and family to join in the fun, too!

The Art Box - Episode 13 - Meet Floyd Johnson

By Abbey Snow
FLOYD JOHNSON “KEEPING AN EYE ON ART” 
As a child, Floyd Morris Johnson started his art journey ‘with a pencil in hand’ creating artwork that has expanded over time, from being an editorial cartoonist to showcasing his work in notable museum exhibits.  
“I had two older brothers who became artists, so I was brought up with a pencil in my hand,”Johsnon said.  “We all did cartoons for our school newspapers and I had no doubt that I wanted to be an artist.”
Johnson was born in 1936 to immigrant Norwegian and Swedish parents. He attended the University of Minnesota contributing to the Minnesota Daily campus newspaper as a cartoonist while working in a sign shop. After graduating in 1956 from UMN with an ALA degree, he started his professional career designing packages for a manufacturing company for three years before exploring his adventurous side with his artistic brother during a tour of Europe. Afterwards, he moved to New York City and began working as a freelance commercial artist for two years with his two older brothers during which he gained valuable experience. He then moved back to his home state of Minnesota where he continued to sharpen his skills as a commercial free-lancer. 
“I worked as a free-lancer in commercial art until 1974 when I lost sight in one eye and had only partial vision in my other from previous eye surgeries,” Johnson said. “ So, fine-art painting, which had been a hobby, then became a full-time quest along with doing editorial cartoons for 17 years.”
Despite suffering from a deteriorating retina condition,  Johnson went on to open his own gallery in 1978, Viking Art Gallery, inspired by his heritage. A year later he opened his second gallery, Floyd Johnson Gallery, which he owned and operated for a number of years. 
“I really enjoy doing a variety of styles and techniques,” Johnson said. “ I did my last oil painting in 1965. Since then I have used  acrylics along with pen and pencil work. I like to do portraits, landscapes, Western, Viking Art and novelties. It’s always fun to try new approaches”
Johnson’s art creations have been displayed in various museums and exhibits. Amongst these include:paintings permanently owned and hung at the Vesterheim Norwegian American Museum in Decorah, Iowa; commissioned paintings by the Minnesota Vikings Football Club; The National  Hockey Hall of Fame; Stavanger Art Museum in Norway; artwork in the private collections at General Mills, Honeywell, the Viking Building in NYC,Sister Kenny Institute and the Mesquite Fine Arts Center.
His  artwork was shown on the CBS network show “60 Minutes.” He’s also had feature articles written about him in American Artist Magazine, Boy Scouts of America, Viking Magazine and the Minneapolis Star/Tribune. In 1987 he was chosen as the American/Norwegian Artist of the Year which resulted in a one-man exhibition of his original art at the Stavanger Art Museum in Norway.  
Johnson moved to Lake Tahoe in 1987 where he marketed his freelance paintings and drawings, and contributed to the Lake Tahoe Tribune as an editorial cartoonist for 15 years. He also became a member of the National Cartoonists Society. He eventually settled into his current residence in Mesquite in 2014 and became involved with the Virgin Valley Artists Association and the Mesquite Fine Arts Center.
“I moved here to Mesquite in 2010 after a forced foreclosure of my home at Lake Tahoe,” Johnson said. “ I lived for two years at the Far West side of town and (ashamedly) never once got to the Mesquite gallery back then.I moved to the Phoenix area in 2012 for two years, living with my son and returned back to Mesquite in 2014. This time I visited the gallery and was overwhelmed by its size and presence. I went right over to the front desk and signed in. I’ve  been an active and appreciative member ever since. I have even signed up my son (who now lives in the Philadelphia area) as a gallery member.  He’s won some gallery ribbons and had sales too, at the gallery.  He’s very busy in Philly, but I encourage him to still do art as his hobby.  He’s good!”
At the MFAC, he has won six Best of Show ribbons as well as many others.   
“What is most important to me is the satisfaction I get from everyday folks who have been supportive,”Johnson said. “Most of all, has been the unfailing support  that my dear family has given me all my life.  I’m a lucky guy, still plodding along.” 
Johnson said he’s received kind remarks from many through the years about his artwork, which gives him a sense of satisfaction. 
“I love my association with Mesquite Arts Center as their monthly themes “forces” me to come up with new art on a regular basis.” Johnson said. 
Amy Wells is the chairperson for ‘Artist of the Month’ at the Mesquite Fine Arts Center. 
“Floyd is amazing!” Wells said. “ I love some of the mixed media he does.He has done multiple works that feature more than just paint. He has a large Lady Gaga painting where he used a CD for her eye. There are landscapes where he has integrated rocks and sand as part of the landscape. I love this because it provides depth. He is also a Vikings fan, but I won’t hold that against him.” 
Currently Johnson sells art prints nationally, but his concentration has been creating originals for Mesquite Fine Arts Center. 
For more information regarding prints and/or commissioned art work visit  www.floydjohnsonstudio.com 

The Art Box - Episode 12 - Ten Minutes with Kathleen - Discussing the Invitational Exhibition

Every year we invite other galleries to participate in an Invitational exhibition at the Mesquite Fine Arts Center. Kathleen Birkholz gives us the history of the Invitational and the specifics of this years exhibition. Give Kathleen a listen and then get out to the gallery at 15 W Mesquite Blvd this September to allow your eyes and heart some enjoyment. Put October 1 on your calendar for the Invitational reception from 11 AM to 1PM to enjoy the art and a Bluegrass Band. 

The Art Box - Episode 11 - ’Ten Minutes with Floyd’ - Pricing Your Art - Mini Episode

A lively discussion between Floyd and Rachelle on how to price your art.

The Art Box - Episode 10 - Meet Randy Bauman

Randy Bauman, a landscape photographer for more than 40 years, enjoys sharing the beauty he captures through the camera lens.
“Landscape photographers will know what I mean,” he says, “a photograph that captures the very essence of the time and place it was shot. A photograph that allows you to smell the air and feel the ground and immerse yourself in that place where you were when you pressed the shutter button. If you do it right, the viewer is immersed in that same place and time.”
He got his first camera at age 10 and by the time he was in college he spent hours in the university’s darkroom, learning about composition and what Ansel Adams called “the range of light.”
“Photoshop replaced the darkroom but lighting, composition, contrast and color balance are still the keys that separate a ‘snapshot’ from a photograph,” he added. “I still do my own printing on a professional photo printer at home because it’s the only way I can assure the final print matches what I saw and felt.”
Randy’s photographs have received awards from New Mexico Magazine and displayed in art galleries and other venues throughout the Southwest. 

The Art Box - Episode 9 - ’Ten Minutes with Rachelle and Steve’ - The Great Mesquite Power Outage 2022 - Mini-Episode

We debut our first 'Ten Minutes With -'  episode today with a run down on the great Mesquite power outage of 2022. These short episodes of ~10 minutes will cover various subjects and be released periodically. Look for some of our talented local and regional artists as they drop in for a focused session on Art. Today Rachelle tells us how she managed to paint "camping' style. 

The Art Box - Episode 8 - ’Ten Minutes with Tyler’ - So you wanna learn how to FAST? - Mini Episode

Tyler tells us all you need to know about fasting for your health. You will be surprised!

The Art Box - Episode 7 - Meet Brenda Slocumb

Episode 7: Meet Brenda Slocumb
Brenda Slocumb is a long time Southern Nevada resident, having grown up in Boulder City and has lived in the Moapa Valley since 1999. She is employed by a local nonprofit, Friends of Gold Butte, where she serves as the Operations Manager. 
Brenda is also an avid horsewoman and has participated in many of the western disciplines, and currently enjoys showing reined cow horses. She enjoys spending time with friends and family, and is thankful to live in an area that has great weather for outdoor activities for most of the year.
Brenda has always been interested in art, and has sketched and drawn (mostly horses!) since she was a small girl. She enjoys painting, whether it be a small craft project, a commissioned mural or just sprucing up a room or an entire home. 
Another of her artistic endeavors is cake decorating, which is mostly self-taught. She began about ten years ago when she and a friend decided they would learn to decorate with fondant. It wasn't as easy as the pros made it look, but with practice it became easier. She says, "A lot of it is stepping outside your comfort zone, and trying new things. At first I didn't know what I couldn't do, so I'd try about anything, and most of it worked out alright, even if I didn't go about it correctly. At least it tasted good, so that was a win." This has become a sort of "side gig" for her and has resulted in a lot of positive response, a whole new skill set and about ten extra pounds, as she finds it difficult to just throw away baked goods that don't turn out perfectly.
 

The Art Box - Episode 6 - Meet Chris Picior

Episode 6: Meet Chris Picior
Chris is a native of NYC. She attended Queens College, Kathryn Gibbs Secretarial School, and Utica College before starting her first career in radio management which took her to New York, New England, and Florida. After 25 years she decided to go into Natural Health. She received her massage license in Florida, then obtained a Bachelor of Natural Health Studies degree and a Doctor of Naturopathy degree from Clayton College of Natural Health in Birmingham, AL. She worked at Clayton College of Natural Health as faculty and in admissions, and had private practices in Atlanta and Birmingham. Christine worked as a Community Educator for the Mesquite Citizens for Clean Indoor Air for 8 years. Her true love has always been art.
 
From January of 2020 through December 31st of 2121 Chris served as elected President of the Virgin Valley Artists Association. She is now Past President working with the Membership Committee.  
 
In December of 2019, Councilman George Gault appointed her to be on the Mesquite Public Arts Commission. In January of 2020, she was elected Chair and still holds that position.
 
At 16 she was sketching people at Washington Square in Greenwich Village in New York. Her first job was in Ace Publishing Company in the Art Department. However, that didn’t last long because she got married and soon had three children to support. When her children were little, she worked in oils and then moved to watercolor. When she moved to Mesquite, she joined a neighborhood group who used acrylic. She then joined the VVAA and started working with colored pencil and just loves it. Chris also plays around with acrylics and is adding ink to her new works. She took a class in alcohol ink last February.
One of her most favorite hobbies it to make gourds into pieces of art. Chris cleans, carves, creates, and decorates gourds and it is one of her favorite mediums.
Chris loves to learn new techniques about art and expand her expertise. Making her artwork into cards intrigued her but the best part, now that she’s retired, is that she’s having fun with her art. 
 
 

The Art Box - Episode 5 - Meet Rachelle Knight

Episode 5: Meet Rachelle Knight
Rachelle, the founding producer and co-host of The Art Box, was born and raised in Salt Lake City. She holds a degree in forest biology from Utah State University and spent the early part of her career as a wildfire firefighter for the USDA Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management, as well as a botanist for the Forest Service. Later, she earned a second degree in computer science and worked as a software engineer until retiring to pursue her true passion, art.
Married with two boys and two lively Australian Shepherds, Rachelle finds joy in hiking, bird watching, reading, gardening, and volunteering. Her vibrant personality shines through in her artwork, which bursts with bright, bold colors and often features flowers, birds, and suns. She hopes her pieces bring a moment of happiness to anyone who encounters them, whether on a busy street or hanging on a wall.
A true free spirit and “hippy-girl” at heart, Rachelle draws inspiration from creatures that embody freedom. Looking ahead, she plans to explore themes of bohemian wanderlust and the joy of unbridled exploration in her art. Her stunning creations can be seen beautifying the power boxes in Mesquite, spreading her signature brightness and inspiration throughout the community.
You can find Rachelle on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/rrkfineart/#