The Art Box

Our research assistant Addie took some time to read the Forward and Chapter One from Steve's new novella Sandcastle Windows. You can purchase on Amazon.  Addie's Review of Sandcastle Windows When Steve first handed me Sandcastle Windows, I expected a story about art. What I didn't expect was a story about memory, grief, wonder, and the extraordinary moments hidden inside ordinary days. This isn't a novel you race through. It's one you wander through. I found myself slowing down, noticing little details, and thinking about the people I've loved and the m...

Artist, musician, mentor, and educator Brian Gibson joins The Art Box for a thoughtful conversation about creativity, compassion, and the power of making art without fear. From painting and experimental music to mentoring young people through creative exploration, Brian shares why curiosity matters more than perfection and why some of life's greatest lessons take years to reveal. Together we explore the intersection of art and empathy, the role of experimentation, and how even the simplest creative tools can open doors to healing, connection, and self-discovery. It's an inspiring conversation that reminds us that the purpose of art...

What does it mean to live a meaningful life? For Las Vegas artist Kim Johnson, the answer is found somewhere between the tangible and the mysterious, the "liminal" space where body and spirit, creativity and purpose, intersect. In this thoughtful conversation, Kim shares her journey from a creative childhood in Southern Nevada to earning her BFA and pursuing art full time. Along the way, she reflects on the influence of her parents, the challenges of loss and resilience, and why creating art has become a trusted companion through life's most difficult moments. Together we explore distraction...

Cellist, visual artist, and lifelong creative Mark Dudrow joins The Art Box for a thoughtful conversation about choosing a life devoted to art, beauty, and human connection. Inspired by supportive parents, an exceptional art teacher, and a life-changing realization at age twenty, Mark shares how creativity has shaped every chapter of his journey. Together we explore the joys and challenges of making a living as an artist, the importance of collaboration, the value of uninterrupted creative time, and why Mark believes art isn't about ego, it's a public service. Whether performing music, creating visual art, or bringing...

What if our ghost stories aren't really about the dead, but about the parts of history we've never fully faced? In Episode 464 of The Art Box, Steve welcomes acclaimed author, historian, and researcher Betsy Gaines Quammen for a captivating conversation about curiosity, storytelling, and the American West. Best known for her celebrated books American Zion and True West, Betsy returns with her remarkable new work, This Haunted Land. Together, they explore Betsy's passion for deep research and the joy of following questions wherever they lead. From abandoned uranium mining communities in Colorado and the centuries-old...

Archaeology is about far more than digging in the dirt. In Episode 463 of The Art Box, Steve welcomes archaeologist and friend Elizabeth Hora, Executive Director of High Desert Heritage and Research, for a fascinating conversation about how ancient landscapes, rock imagery, and cultural artifacts can help us better understand the people who came before us, and our responsibility to those who are here today. Elizabeth shares how a sixth-grade fascination with Egyptian archaeology eventually led her to the archaeology of the American West, where she studies prehistoric rock imagery by looking beyond the images themselves...

I was introduced to Beth Enos and her husband, Will, by our mutual superstar friend, Candace Garlock, during the opening reception of an exhibition at the Brewery Arts Center in Carson City. The three of us hit it off immediately, as if we'd been friends for years. We were fortunate to welcome Will to The Art Box for Episode 453, but Beth had recently undergone shoulder replacement surgery, so we patiently waited until she had recovered enough to join us in the studio. The wait was well worth it. In this engaging conversation, Beth shares her...

One of the greatest joys of hosting The Art Box is the opportunity to meet remarkable people whose stories inspire long after the microphones are turned off. It has been a genuine pleasure getting to know Craig Petersen, and I am honored to welcome him as a guest to share his extraordinary journey with our listeners. Sometimes the greatest stories begin when life seems to be falling apart. In Episode 461, Craig joins Steve for an honest and heartfelt conversation about recovery, resilience, and discovering a creative voice later in life. After reaching a personal crossroads...

Welcome to a very special edition of The Art Box Podcast, recorded from the Mesquite Works STEAM Center in the Mojave Desert. Two hundred and fifty years ago, an idea was set into motion, imperfect, evolving, debated, celebrated… and endlessly interpreted through the voices of generations that followed. America has always been more than dates in a textbook or words on fading parchment. It lives in stories. In songs. In poetry. In memory. In the arts. And tonight, The Art Box gathers together a remarkable group of past guests and creative voices to help us ce...

Episode 390 guest Monique Long returns to The Art Box for a deeply personal conversation about identity, creativity, and the remarkable power of believing in yourself. While our first conversation explored Monique's extraordinary journey through Hollywood as an Emmy Award-winning costume designer, stylist, and creative visionary, this episode takes us deeper into the philosophy behind her celebrated "I AM..." series and the life experiences that continue to shape her work. Together, we explore what it means to live authentically, embrace vulnerability, and create art that speaks to both the artist and the viewer. Monique shares how...

What happens when you turn a 1960s vintage bus into an art gallery? You get Gallery RAG Las Vegas, the bold new artist-run exhibition space created by Las Vegas artist, curator, and community builder Laura Esbensen. In this energetic conversation, Steve sits down with Laura to explore her journey from illustration and photography to sculpture, installation art, and curating projects that challenge the traditional gallery model. Together they discuss creativity, experimentation, the beauty of asking "What do I already have to share?", and Laura's belief that art is a radical act of generosity. Laura also...

Artist, photographer, writer, and explorer Sarah Kilgallon joins The Art Box from her home in Portugal for a thoughtful conversation about curiosity, creativity, and the winding path that leads us toward a meaningful life. Originally from Boston, Sarah followed both her heart and her imagination to Portugal, where she has found a vibrant artistic community and a renewed sense of purpose. Together, we explore how photography became the foundation of Sarah's creative practice, why walking, whether along the Camino de Santiago, through forests, or beside the ocean, has become an essential part of her artistic process, and...

Step inside the vibrant creative world of Julie Notaro, Las Vegas mixed-media artist and founder of fraiche arts, a working art studio and gallery located inside the iconic Arts Factory in the Las Vegas Arts District (18B). Here, Julie paints, teaches, exhibits her evolving collection of fine art, and transforms her original artwork into elegant silk scarves, inviting visitors to experience creativity up close. In this thoughtful conversation, Julie shares her remarkable artistic journey, from growing up inspired by the museums of Los Angeles and a career in advertising to discovering collage, encaustic wax, and the freedom...

Poet, author, and former New Mexico Poet Laureate Lauren Camp joins The Art Box for a thoughtful conversation about curiosity, language, and the quiet power of paying attention. From her beginnings as a visual artist and jazz radio host to writing her acclaimed new collection Is Is Enough, Lauren explores how place, time, sound, and stillness shape her poetry. We also journey beneath the dark skies of the Grand Canyon, where her experience as Astronomer-in-Residence inspired In Old Sky, and discover why a simple word like "spigot" can become a doorway to imagination. If you've ever wondered how poetry...

In this inspiring and deeply human conversation, Steve Dudrow is joined by friend, intuitive, and past Art Box guest Kaye Ashbridge as co-host for a heartfelt discussion with Nancy Nelson ("Dangle") and her partner in advocacy Kat Hartley ("Dot"), the creative forces behind dangle & dot, a social enterprise dedicated to changing the way we think about dementia, caregiving, cognitive decline, and what it means to continue living a meaningful, engaged life. After receiving an Alzheimer's diagnosis in 2013, Nancy could have accepted the traditional narrative of fear and loss. Instead, she chose a different path—one grounded in re...

This was such a delightful conversation with photographer Will Enos, whom I met recently at the Brewery Arts Center in Carson City. Will and his wife, Beth (also a fabulous photographer and a soon to be Art Box guest), were attending our mutual friend Candace Garlock's remarkable Road to Terminus exhibition, and I'm grateful our paths crossed. For more than forty years, Will has chased light, shadow, and the perfect image. In this thoughtful episode of The Art Box, he shares his journey from discovering black-and-white photography in high school to a successful career in advertising and...

As part of our continuing coverage of the 41st Annual National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko, Nevada, Steve Dudrow welcomes filmmaker Natalie Aramendia and singer, songwriter, and actress Kristyn Harris to discuss the creation of the award-winning film A Ranch Musical. Recorded during our nineteenth conversation connected to this year's Gathering, Natalie and Kristyn take listeners behind the scenes of bringing this heartfelt story to life on a working ranch in Tuscarora, Nevada. They share the challenges and triumphs of planning, filming, and now distributing a movie that celebrates the people, landscapes, traditions, and music of the...

MJ sits down with Laura Buxton, President of the Virgin Valley Junior Golf Association, to discuss how the organization is helping shape the next generation of golfers and community leaders. Laura shares the association's mission of creating a positive, inclusive, and growth-oriented environment where young athletes develop not only their golf skills, but also confidence, discipline, teamwork, respect, and a lifelong love of the game. The conversation explores the exciting programs, clinics, and opportunities planned for this summer, along with the dedicated volunteers and community support that make youth golf thrive in Virgin Valley. Whether your child...

In this engaging episode of The Art Box, MJ Stiles sits down with Mesquite's own Kathy Cho, a woman whose creative talents seem to know no bounds. Kathy is a professional golfer, sought-after golf instructor, accomplished artist, internationally recognized clothing designer, and musician whose curiosity and passion continue to inspire those around her. Kathy shares her journey in the world of golf and her dedication to teaching players of all ages, helping beginners and seasoned golfers alike find confidence and joy in the game. Beyond the fairways, she discusses her work as a celebrated fashion designer and...

Every once in a while, The Art Box likes to pause from our usual conversations and celebrate the days that quietly stitch together the fabric of our shared lives. Holidays. Cultural moments. National remembrances. Days that ask us not simply to wave a flag or mark a calendar… but to reflect. One of the beautiful things about nearly five hundred episodes of conversations is that along the way, we’ve gathered an extraordinary family of artists, storytellers, musicians, poets, historians, dreamers, and deep thinkers. And on special occasions like this, we’re honored to invite some of those...