The Art Box

The Art Box - Episode 353 - Desert Love: Growing Native with Kym Martin

In this episode of The Art Box, we sat down at Mystery Ranch, with Kym Martin, Outreach Coordinator for Desert Love Native Plants, a nonprofit nursery rooted at Cactus Joe’s near the Red Rock Canyon foothills. Desert Love is more than a nursery, it’s a movement to make native plants accessible while inspiring communities to reimagine their landscapes and become stewards of the desert.
Kym shares her journey from 15 years of teaching English to cultivating a new classroom in the desert, where lessons come from yucca, creosote, and the quiet resilience of native flora. She lights up when talking about her favorite, the globe mallow, an unassuming wildflower that paints the desert in bursts of orange. Just as the mallow creates color and habitat, Kym envisions building native plant corridors throughout the city, stitching together pockets where pollinators, birds, and people alike can thrive. With a background in permaculture and water-harvesting, she brings both knowledge and passion to her role, reminding us how native plants can reshape not only our landscapes, but our communities.
Learn more at: https://www.desertlovelv.org/
 

The Art Box - Episode 352 - Conversations in the Shade: Josie the Joshua Tree

In a very special episode of The Art Box, we hand the microphone to an unlikely guest , Josie the Joshua Tree, a wise and witty desert elder rooted at Mystery Ranch in Avi Kwa Ame National Monument. With humor and heart, Josie reflects on centuries of desert life: from her partnership with yucca moths to raising quail families in her shade, from Kim Garrison Means’ childhood at the ranch to witnessing Avi Kwa Ame’s designation as a National Monument.
Along the way, Josie shares her fears, fire, machines, and careless human hands, and her hopes, as the Mojave’s future is safeguarded through protection, research, and community. The Art Box research assistant Addie drops in with science on Joshua Tree species, and host Steve closes with reflections from his Mojave Shadows project.
This imaginative blend of storytelling, science, and desert wisdom is both playful and profound, a reminder that even in the Mojave, every shadow tells a story.

The Art Box - Episode 351 - Guardians of Avi Kwa Ame: Alan O’Neill on Parks, People, and Preservation

This episode was deeply personal for me. I had the privilege of sitting down with Alan O’Neill, a man whose life’s work has been devoted to protecting America’s public lands and keeping them open for all of us to experience. Our conversation took place at Mystery Ranch during my art/science residency, with the vast Mojave Desert stretching out below us, a view that matched the depth and meaning of our discussion. To research, record, and share this story was not only exciting, but profoundly moving for me as both an artist and a steward of these lands.
In this episode, we welcome Alan O’Neill, retired superintendent of Lake Mead National Recreation Area, to reflect on a lifetime dedicated to the stewardship of public lands. Growing up in Washington, D.C., Alan shares how his early summers spent exploring the West with his mother and identical twin brother, sparked a deep connection to the National Parks that would shape his career. We dive into his pivotal role in collaborating with the Searchlight community and tribal nations to secure protection for Avi Kwa Ame, culminating in its designation as a National Monument. Along the way, Alan offers thoughtful insights into the power of partnerships, the importance of listening, and the enduring responsibility to safeguard America’s natural and cultural treasures for future generations.

The Art Box - Episode 350 - Desert Roots to Vegas Lights: The Mesquite Café Blues Band with MJ

MJ welcomes back Paul and Linda of the Mesquite Café Blues Band for a fresh conversation about their musical journey. Since their last appearance on The Art Box in early 2023 (with hosts Linda Harris and Rachel Washington), the band has been on the rise, splitting their performances between Mesquite, Las Vegas, and Laughlin. Known for blending soulful blues with driving rock, their sound now reaches wider audiences while still staying true to their hometown roots. In this episode, Paul and Linda share stories from the road, the thrill of bigger stages, and why Mesquite will always be the heartbeat of their music.
You can find them at: https://mesquitecafebluesband.com/

The Art Box - Episode 349 – Dulce Sol: Poetry in Dreams and Journeys

In this episode of The Art Box, we welcome Dulce Sol, an emerging Las Vegas poet whose words are steeped in dreams, travel, and self-discovery. Since beginning her poetic journey at just 17, Dulce has evolved into a voice that blends the surreal with the lived, weaving imagination and memory into verses that resonate with honesty and wonder.
We explore how her dreams often spark poetic imagery, how world travel expanded her vision and deepened her creative vocabulary, and how her growth as a poet reflects both personal and artistic transformation. Adding a special dimension to our recording was Dulce’s one-year-old daughter, Briana, who punctuated the conversation with laughter and reactions to her mother’s voice, reminding us how poetry, like life, is never separate from the moment we’re in.
Dolce Sol is an up-and-coming regional poet to watch, her work carries the pulse of lived experience and the promise of a rising voice in contemporary poetry.

The Art Box - Episode 348 - One Year of Fat Dough: From Vision to Community Staple

Hard to believe it’s been a year since we first sat down with Junior Baeza back in Episode 220 to talk about a dream of bringing a unique artisan bakery to Mesquite. That vision, shared with his wife Sabra, has now blossomed into Fat Dough, a beloved cornerstone of our community.
On this special one-year anniversary episode, Junior dropped by The Mesquite Works STEAM Center Art Box studio on a Friday evening to reflect on the bakery’s journey. From the challenges of opening day to the sweet success of fresh bread, soups, and pastries that fill the air with irresistible aromas, Fat Dough has become much more than a place to grab a bite. It’s a gathering space, a hub of warmth, and, thanks to the dedicated team Junior and Sabra have built, a true community family.
Join us as we revisit the vision, celebrate the milestones, and share in the story of how Fat Dough has risen * pun intended * into something that nourishes both body and soul in our little town.
Find Fat Dough:
Address: 12 W Mesquite Blvd , Mesquite, NV, United States, Nevada  (702) 344-5544
Email: Fatdoughmesquite@gmail.com
Instagram: @fatdoughbakery Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61563605806180
 

The Art Box - Episode 347 - Culinary Artistry - Meet Chef Ayelet

When most think of art, the first thing they think of is painting, drawing, ceramics, wood working, jewelry making or photography.  
 
In the past few years, the imagination of the public has been captured by chefs or culinary artists, creating art with food design and presentation. It is through their creative process of imagining and blending art and science that chefs create art that is not only pleasing to the eye, but to the palate as well.
 
In Mesquite, we are incredibly lucky to have Chef Ayelet, (pronounced "I Yell It"), who creates cooking classes for the entire community.  She arrived in Mesquite after holding positions such as the Lead Pastry Chef at the Ritz Carlton, Chicago and at the Montage, Park City. She also owned and operated her own restaurant and catering businesses in Chicago.
 
I worked with Chef Ayelet on a private cooking class series with the Desert Dames social club during 2024 to 2025.  Chef Ayelet offered 8 classes attended by 60 Desert Dames students. Some of the classes she offered were: Fall Soups & Artisan Bread featuring French Onion Soup, Chicken Tortilla Soup and fresh Sourdough with Herbs. Spanish Tapas, Paella and Sangria classes with a sit down, family style dinner format were a hit and held in the spring. An Asian inspired Salad class offered recipes that anticipated the summer heat.
 
Chef Ayelet has an email list that she distributes at the end of the month to publicize her upcoming classes. In addition, she makes and sells her cakes for all occasions, will host private parties at her home and is open to cooking and baking for special events. 
 
Text Chef Ayelet at (847) 366-4657 and mention, "cooking class schedule" or email her at ayeletresnick5@gmail.com and ask to be added to her email distribution list. Chef Ayelet will send emails with her cooking class schedules throughout the year.  Do not wait to text your cooking class reservation, as classes sell out very quickly.

The Art Box - Episode 346 - Clark County Public Arts - Meet Mickey Sprott

In this episode of The Art Box, we sit down with Mickey Sprott, a powerhouse in Nevada’s arts landscape and the Program Administrator for Public Art at Clark County’s Department of Parks and Recreation. Mickey leads a vibrant and multifaceted public arts program that reaches both rural and urban communities, bringing large-scale public art installations to life, mentoring professional and emerging artists, and supporting youth through creative education.
Under her leadership, the Public Arts Office also operates three dynamic galleries, oversees the conservation of the county’s public art collection, and supports the literary arts through programs like the Clark County Poet Laureate, The Ink Well initiative, and funding for local poets to perform and teach.
Mickey brings deep experience to her work, with a Master’s in Public Administration, a Bachelor’s in Art, and years of leadership roles, including board director for the Southern Nevada Art Coalition, former chair of the Las Vegas Arts Commission, and Henderson Arts Advisory Commissioner. She also played a key role as project manager for the 1 October Memorial Committee, helping bring the powerful Forever One Memorial to vision through JCJ Architecture.
Join us for a rich conversation on public art, civic impact, and what it takes to build a cultural legacy that speaks to all corners of a community.
For more information follow this link: https://www.clarkcountynv.gov/government/departments/parks___recreation/services/public_art/
 

The Art Box - Episode 345 - Everybody Has A Story To Tell - Meet Terri Fitzsimmons

Welcome to The Art Box, where creativity meets community. In Episode 345, Everybody Has A Story To Tell, we’re thrilled to introduce you to Terri Fitzsimmons—a published author, longtime educator, and generous supporter of local non-profits.
Terri brings a deep well of life experience and a passion for storytelling that resonates far beyond the page. Whether she’s mentoring young writers, organizing community events, or penning her next piece, Terri leads with heart.
Sandi and I had the pleasure of sitting down with her in our STEAM Center recording studio for a conversation filled with warmth, wisdom, and a few surprises.
So grab a cup of something cozy, settle in, and enjoy our chat with the inspiring Terri Fitzsimmons.
You can find Terri's Books at this link: https://www.amazon.com/stores/T.K.-Banner/author/B09ZJ72M5Y?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=e16f6b49-856c-4e9a-ac06-1d39443b550b
 

The Art Box - Episode 344 - Mesquite Senior Games - Meet Sandy Tudor

In this special Art Box public service episode, we shine a spotlight on a beloved community cornerstone: the Mesquite Senior Games.
Founded 24 years ago to promote health and well-being through sports for seniors, the Games have grown from a local initiative into an internationally recognized event, drawing competitors from around the globe.
Host Diana Lee Rose welcomes the dynamic Sandy Tudor, Executive Director of the Mesquite Senior Games, for an inspiring conversation about the organization's impact, exciting plans for this fall, and a look ahead to 2026. From pickleball to softball to golf, it’s more than just competition, it’s about community, vitality, and celebrating life at every age.
Find out more here: https://www.mesquiteseniorgames.org/