The Art Box

Today on The Art Box, we’re thrilled to welcome Las Vegas-based artist X. Darvi, a bold and boundary-pushing creative voice whose work challenges perception and celebrates identity. Known for a vibrant fusion of street art, surrealism, and storytelling, X. Darvi transforms canvases, and sometimes entire walls, into emotional landscapes that speak to personal truth and cultural memory. Whether thro...

It took nearly a year of juggling calendars, but Tiffany Weems and I finally found time to sit down for a fun, insightful, and long-awaited podcast conversation. Tiffany is a prominent Las Vegas-based photographer and the founder of the Las Vegas chapter of Women in Focus, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting and promoting women photographers. Her leadership has been instrumental in es...

Sandi and Steve had the pleasure of welcoming Christy Kendall to The Art Box podcast, joining us by phone in our STEAM Center recording studio to talk about her debut novel, Erie Ending. Steve first met Christy a decade ago while volunteering at Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, where Christy served as Project Leader for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Southern Nevada complex. Christy beg...

"Stories That Shape Us: A Conversation with Ana Pacheco" In this episode of The Art Box, we sit down with celebrated Santa Fe historian and author Ana Pacheco, whose deep knowledge of New Mexico’s cultural roots brings the past vividly to life. As the former Santa Fe City Historian and founder of La Herencia magazine, Ana has dedicated her career to preserving and sharing the rich tapestry of Hisp...

Apocalyptic Dogs, Data Privacy, and the Importance of a Really Good Dare: Meet Ben Malisow Sandi Randelle hosts this episode featuring technical writer, author, and self-proclaimed lazy gadabout Ben Malisow.  Join them for an interesting and occasionally humorous conversation about technical versus creative writing, why Las Vegas may actually be the center of the universe, and the lasting value of...

What sparked this episode was a mural project my friend Tyler mentioned, one taking shape in the Special Education classroom at Virgin Valley High School. I realized, wait a minute, one of those teachers brings her class to the STEAM Center every week to dive into science and tech! A few emails later, Tiffany Ludvigson was kind enough to join us in the Mesquite Works STEAM Center recording studio...

Melissa Eligul graciously joined Steve as guest co-host for a vibrant and wide-ranging conversation with the remarkable DeAnna Beachley, bird watcher, hiker, teacher, historian, artist, poet, and essayist. This lively episode offers a fresh wave of inspiration as we explore creativity, connection to place, and the power of words. DeAnna’s poetry and essays have appeared in an impressive array of p...

In this compelling episode of The Art Box, we’re joined by Erika G. Abad; writer, scholar, educator, and unapologetic storyteller. Known for her work in Latinx studies, queer feminist theory, and community-driven narratives, Dr. Abad shares how she uses storytelling as a tool for healing, resistance, and cultural preservation. We explore how her personal history, academic journey, and creative wor...

Episode 301.1 – Behind the Curtain: The Cast of Clowns with Guns In this follow-up episode, join the cast and crew of Clowns with Guns as they gather around the mics at the Mesquite Works STEAM Center to reflect on their journey—rehearsals, challenges, laughter, and the powerful performance that followed. What starts as a casual chat quickly turns into a lively, heartfelt conversation among friend...

Episode 301: Clowns with Guns – A Conversation with the Cast and Director Clowns with Guns (A Vaudeville)—written by Christopher Evans and first released around 2016, is a bold, award-winning one-act that takes on the topic of school violence through satire, shock, and emotional depth. This spring, the Virgin Valley High School drama club, under the direction of Wende Killinger, brought the play t...

I had the distinct pleasure of hosting author Lucas Marcus for a very special milestone—our 300th podcast episode—recorded right here at the Mesquite Works STEAM Center studio. Lucas, the brilliant mind behind Racing Crows, joined us for a conversation that was as thought-provoking as it was entertaining. His novel, a captivating (and possibly not entirely fictional?) journey, is rich with uncanny...

Back in 2020, the world was turned upside down by the COVID-19 pandemic. Uncertainty was everywhere, public anxiety ran high, health guidelines shifted daily, and vaccines, while a beacon of hope, were hard to access, especially in remote towns like Mesquite. But in the face of chaos, our small-town heroes rose to the challenge. Through a remarkable public-private partnership, they pulled off an e...

🎙️ Public Service Spotlight: Mesquite Grow with George Gault In this special Public Service episode, George Gault stopped by the Mesquite Works STEAM Center recording studio to share exciting news about the Grow Mesquite business initiative. Backed by a recent Nevada Main Street grant, this program is designed to support local entrepreneurs in launching and expanding their businesses right here in...

In this episode of The Art Box, Sandi and I are joined by award-winning historical fiction author Amanda Skenandore, who came to us through a warm recommendation from our past guest, Nancy Alain. Amanda called in for a rich and engaging conversation about her journey as a writer, her passion for uncovering overlooked moments in history, and how she brings the past to life through compelling charac...

Join us for a magical conversation on creativity with our very own Floyd Johnson and this month’s Naturally Beautiful exhibition winner, Kaylealayah Whiterose Whitefeather. Personally, I’m in heaven whenever these two inspiring souls come together to share their artistic journeys, it truly makes my heart sing. We recorded this episode just after the monthly reception in Classroom B of the Mesquite...

Join us for a special episode featuring Ms. Senior Mesquite Director Becky Boyd, reigning Ms. Senior Mesquite Bronzie Dabney, and the 2025 contestants: Angela Lockwood, Deborah Lancman, Irene Johnson, and Marie Alvey. Becky takes us through the history and significance of this inspiring community event, sharing why it continues to be a cherished tradition. Then, we turn the spotlight on this year’...

It was an absolute joy to welcome actress Nichelle Thornton to our Mesquite Works STEAM Center studio. Fresh off her starring role as Anne Shirley in Mesquite Community Theatre’s production of Anne of Green Gables, Nichelle brought energy, heart, and fascinating behind-the-scenes insights to our podcast. Join us for a conversation with this talented rising star, as she shares her journey, passion...

Last Christmas, Steve ran into his friend and Rotary member, Linda Gault, at Smith's, where she and her Interact Club group were ringing the bell for The Salvation Army. A quick chat, a dollar in the bucket, and soon we were scheduling a podcast episode. Linda oversees the Interact Club at Beaver Dam Jr./Sr. High School, a small-town school on the north-western corner of the Arizona Strip. Over th...

Linda and Chris recently sat down in our Mesquite Works STEAM Center studio with the multifaceted creative force, Edie Dotan. A visionary artist, Edie’s work is a celebration of interconnectedness, nature, and the cosmos, brought to life through vibrant colors and imaginative, heart-centered imagery. Her paintings not only uplift but also evoke a sense of serenity and wonder. Constantly pushing th...

Magic happens when two talented fiction writers come together, and this episode is proof. Sandi Randelle steps in as co-host for an electrifying conversation with Cory Desmond Wolfe, where creativity sparks, writing insights flow, and Easter egg strategies unfold. Passion, energy, and storytelling wisdom fill the hour. So, pour yourself a glass of Merlot, slip on your headphones, and dive into thi...

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Sogand Tabatabaei, Arts Learning Specialist at the Nevada Arts Council. Passionate about expanding access to the arts, Sogand works to integrate arts learning into Nevada classrooms and build partnerships that ensure arts education is accessible to all, regardless of age or background. She is particularly dedicated to bringing more resources to underrepre...

Join us for an engaging and thought-provoking conversation with our friend, Las Vegas artist Jeannie Hua, as she prepares for her upcoming solo show, "Transgressions," opening February 21 at Gallery 456 in New York City. Through her powerful and deeply personal work, Jeannie explores themes of racism, mental health, generational trauma, and the ultimate act of defiance, thriving in the face of dis...

Thanks to a generous grant from the Nevada Arts Council, Linda and Steve are broadcasting from the Elko Convention Center at the 40th Annual National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko, Nevada. A heartfelt thank you to the Western Folklife Center for their incredible hospitality and dedication to preserving the spirit of cowboy poetry and Western storytelling! That is a wrap - Such an enjoyable time...

Thanks to a generous grant from the Nevada Arts Council, Linda and Steve are broadcasting from the Elko Convention Center at the 40th Annual National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko, Nevada. A heartfelt thank you to the Western Folklife Center for their incredible hospitality and dedication to preserving the spirit of cowboy poetry and Western storytelling! At the Cowboy Poetry Gathering, we had t...

Thanks to a generous grant from the Nevada Arts Council, Linda and Steve are broadcasting from the Elko Convention Center at the 40th Annual National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko, Nevada. A heartfelt thank you to the Western Folklife Center for their incredible hospitality and dedication to preserving the spirit of cowboy poetry and Western storytelling! WOW, what a conversation! In this episod...