The Art Box

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 thro...

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...

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 Se...

Hosted by MJ Stiles | Recorded at the Mesquite Works STEAM Center

In this soulful and moving episode of The Art Box, MJ Stiles sits down with acclaimed musician and storyteller John McAndrew, a man whose music has reached audiences around the world, featured in major films, national events, and Grammy-considered albums.

With a voice as raw as it is inspiring, John shares his journey of redemption, resilience, and the relentless pur...

In this episode of The Art Box, Steve reconnects with muralist and musician Tanoo, a passionate artist whose mission is to bring public art and deeper meaning to overlooked spaces in downtown Las Vegas. After meeting Tanoo at the Fremont Street Spring Fair hosted by our friend Liezl, Steve knew this was a conversation worth having.

What started as a simple idea for a podcast took a profound turn when Tanoo revealed he’s also a Budd...

In this special episode of The Art Box, host Steve sits down with Ian Wright and Lexie Little, leaders of the Utah Cultural Site Stewardship Program, to discuss a powerful intersection of history, preservation, and storytelling.

Ian and Lexie share the journey behind their extensive research and collaboration to create the Buffalo Soldiers Heritage Trail, a statewide interpretive project that shines a long-overdue spotlight on the ...

Welcome to The Art Box! I’m your host, MJ Stiles, and today we’re recording from our Mesquite Works STEAM Center studio with someone who’s been lighting up the local art scene since his early teens.

Liam Gutierrez has been a featured artist at Juniper Outpost Boutique in Mesquite, Nevada since he was just 14 years old. Beloved by customers and deeply appreciated by shop owners Charlotte and David, Liam’s work is a staple of the bou...

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...

In this vibrant episode of The Art Box, MJ sits down with her friend and fellow creative spirit, Melissa Osburg, for a wide-ranging and heartfelt conversation about art, healing, and finding joy through color. A self-taught abstract and mixed media artist originally from New Orleans and now based in Texas, Melissa shares how painting became a form of therapy during a challenging time in her life.

Since 2016, Melissa has embraced ar...

In this heartwarming episode, Steve had the pleasure of sitting down with his friends, and the dynamic brother-sister duo, Ara and Juan Fernanda, at the Mesquite Works STEAM Center studio. Together, they share the story behind Fat Dough Bakery, where baking is more than a craft, it’s a sensory experience and a service-driven passion.

We journey back to their childhood memories of the aromas and flavors from their homet...

Steve was deeply honored to sit down with one of his art heroes, Reno-based artist and professor Candace Garlock, whose generous spirit and boundless creativity make her not only an extraordinary talent, but also one of the kindest souls in the art world.

Candace’s richly layered printmaking and mixed media work delves into memory, identity, and the emotional threads that connect us all. In this conversation, she shares her journey...

In this episode of The Art Box, we welcome back Utah author and longtime friend Kase Johnstun to talk about his powerful new book Cast Away. Co-hosted by published author and Art Box regular Sandi Randelle, the conversation dives deep into the heart of Kase’s storytelling—from the raw truths of Cast Away to the lyrical beauty of his earlier novel Let the Wild Grasses Grow (a personal favorite of Steve’s).

Sandi and Kase spark some ...

In this special episode of The Art Box, Sandi and Steve sit down with two powerful voices in the humanities: Bobbie Ann Howell from Nevada Humanities and Kase Johnstun from Utah Humanities. Together, they explore the vital role the humanities play in shaping the cultural and civic fabric of underserved and rural communities across the West. In an age of shifting priorities and tightening budgets, their conversation sheds light on w...