Maybe, Actually, Museums are for me.

The Montclair Art Museum welcomed, Arianna Jobst, as it's first ever Writer-in-Residence this Spring.Arianna Jobst is a New Jersey native and emerging writer working primarily in creative nonfiction — short stories, essays, and novel writing that explore family, queerness, and identity. She graduated from the Literary Prose program at the Univeristy of Virginia. Her piece My Turn, voicing the frustrations of queer women and their female friendships, was published in the Virginia Literary Review.During the duration of the exhibition, "See It Now: Contemporary Art from the Ann and Mel Schaffer Collection," her literary interpretations of art on view in the show will be published weekly, with readings, such as this, released in our podcast feed bi-weekly.This piece, titled "My Nude Tights." is an interpritation of the artwork, Keeper, by Sheree Hovsepian.Disclaimer: All works presented here are interpretive prose written by Arianna Jobst, Writer-in-Residence at the Montclair Art Museum. The views, interpretations, and opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not represent or reflect the positions, values, or views of the Montclair Art Museum.You can read this work and all of the other entries in this series by visiting—https://www.montclairartmuseum.org/read-it-now-interpretive-works-see-it-now

This week on, "Maybe, Actually, Museums are for me.," Alex, Creative Media Producer at the Montclair Art Museum sat down with Ming-Jing, the Museum's Marketing Intern to dicuss their recent adventures abroad and how the art museum's they visited across Europe compare to their American counterparts. They discuss key experiential differences in wait times, collecting practices, attention to detail, curation decisions and audience flow among other things.Learn more about the Montclair Art Museum by visiting—https://www.montclairartmuseum.orgRecorded on 04/17/2026

The Montclair Art Museum welcomed, Arianna Jobst, as it's first ever Writer-in-Residence this Spring.Arianna Jobst is a New Jersey native and emerging writer working primarily in creative nonfiction — short stories, essays, and novel writing that explore family, queerness, and identity. She graduated from the Literary Prose program at the Univeristy of Virginia. Her piece My Turn, voicing the frustrations of queer women and their female friendships, was published in the Virginia Literary Review.During the duration of the exhibition, See It Now: Contemporary Art from the Ann and Mel Schaffer Collection, her literary interpretations of art on view in the show will be published weekly, with readings, such as this, released in our podcast feed bi-weekly.This piece, titled "Restless." is an interpritation of the artwork, Face, by Natalie Frank.Disclaimer: All works presented here are interpretive prose written by Arianna Jobst, Writer-in-Residence at the Montclair Art Museum. The views, interpretations, and opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not represent or reflect the positions, values, or views of the Montclair Art Museum.

This week on Maybe, Actually, Museums are for me, host, Alex traveled to Chicago to sit down with the world renowned contemporary artist Nick Cave for wide ranging conversation.Recorded at Nick's studio, Facility, in Old Irving Park, the conversation offered an intimate look into Cave’s expansive practice, from his iconic Soundsuits to his more recent explorations in bronze and performance.Cave’s work, featured in major institutions including the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Montclair Art Museum, blends art, fashion, and social commentary, addressing urgent themes such as racism, gun violence, and climate change.Though unable to attend MAM’s Spring Art Gala as Honorary Artist Chair due to his participation in the Venice Biennale, Cave welcomed the conversation in his studio, offering reflections on his upbringing, storytelling, and the evolution of his work. Framed through an exploration of the studio as both a physical and psychological space, this episode traces the connections between environment, process, and artistic expression, beginning with a discussion of the studio itself.

The Montclair Art Museum welcomed, Arianna Jobst, as it's first ever Writer-in-Residence this Spring.Arianna Jobst is a New Jersey native and emerging writer working primarily in creative nonfiction — short stories, essays, and novel writing that explore family, queerness, and identity. She graduated from the Literary Prose program at the Univeristy of Virginia. Her piece My Turn, voicing the frustrations of queer women and their female friendships, was published in the Virginia Literary Review.During the duration of the exhibition, See It Now: Contemporary Art from the Ann and Mel Schaffer Collection, her literary interpretations of art on view in the show will be published weekly, with readings, such as this, released in our podcast feed bi-weekly.This piece, titled "Maybe, I wasn't supposed to see it." is an interpritation of the artwork, Face, by Natalie Frank.Disclaimer: All works presented here are interpretive prose written by Arianna Jobst, Writer-in-Residence at the Montclair Art Museum. The views, interpretations, and opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not represent or reflect the positions, values, or views of the Montclair Art Museum.Read more by Arianna by visiting the following link—https://www.montclairartmuseum.org/read-it-now-interpretive-works-see-it-now***Natalie Frank (b. 1980), Face, 2011. Oil on board. Courtesy of Ann and Mel Schaffer.

This week Alex, Creative Media Producer at the Montclair Art Museum, sat down with Audrey Roclore, MAM's Curatorial Assistant to discuss the purpose and importance of public art and civic beautification.Learn more about MAM—https://www.montclairartmuseum.org

This week on Maybe, Actually, Museum are for me, Alex sits down with renowned harpist, bandleader, and jazz performer, Brandee Younger. Brandee is a harpist, composer and bandleader whose music connects spiritual jazz and classical training to the rhythmic soulfulness of R&B and hip-hop. In this episode the two discuss the intersection between fine art and jazz music, if playing a show inside a museum has any influence, and how Brandee has started to develop an interest in art collecting.You can see Brandee Younger perform at the Montclair Art Museum on Thursday, March 19, 2026 at the Museum's annual Art Meets Jazz concert hosted and supported by the African American Cultural Commitee (AACC).You can find tickets here—https://www.montclairartmuseum.org/events/events-and-programs/art-meets-jazz-brandee-younger

This week, Alex Pavljuk, Creative Media Producer at the Montclair Art Museum (MAM), is back! In this solo, bonus episode Alex let's listeners behind the scenes to know where we've been the past couple of months.Going forward, expect a new episode every two weeks with supplemental content here and there.Learn more about MAM by visiting,https://www.montclairartmuseum.org

This week, Alex Pavljuk, Digital Content Strategist at the Montclair Art Museum (MAM), chats again with his colleague Melissa Casale. In this episode, they answer some more burning questions asked by our listeners. They talk about accessibility in the arts, how we come up with show topics, trends or movements in contemporary art that excite us and more!

This week, join Alex Pavljuk, Digital Content Strategist at the Montclair Art Museum (MAM), as he chats with Andrea Ferreira, Volunteer and Intern Coordinator at MAM. In this episode, they discuss the importance of volunteers within the arts, why people should give back to their community, and how to get involved in MAM's volunteer program.Recorded on 01/01/2025

In this week's episode revisit, host Alex Pavljuk, the Digital Content Strategist at the Montclair Art Museum (MAM), sits down with his colleague, boss, and resident film buff, Asif Iqbal, the Director of Marketing at MAM, about what place film, as an art form, belong in Museums?This episode was recorded on 11/13/24

This week, Alex Pavljuk, Digital Content Strategist at the Montclair Art Museum (MAM), chats again with his colleague Melissa Casale, Digital Marketing Manager at MAM. In this episode, they discuss some recent developments in the art market.

This week, Alex Pavljuk, Digital Content Strategist at the Montclair Art Museum (MAM), chats again with his colleague Melissa Casale, Digital Marketing Manager at MAM about her recent trip abroad. Having just returned from England, they talk about the seeing some Leonardo Da Vinci work, the array of Museum's Melissa visited, and a brief chat on the Dada art movement. Recorded on 11/13/2025

Alex and Melissa need another week to finish the newest episode, so we are revisiting an older one where he sat down with Audrey Roclore, MAM's Curatorial Assistant to discuss the purpose and importance of wall labels in museum galleries, how they tell a more full story about the art and artists on view, and why the insight that a youthful perspective matters.Episode originally recorded on 05/11/2025Episode orignally airred on 05/14/2025 

Movember is a month-long campaign each November that raises awareness for men’s health issues, including prostate and testicular cancer, as well as mental health. In support of the initiative, Alex Pavljuk, Digital Content Strategist and host of "Maybe, Actually, Museums Are for Me," sat down with Audrey Roclore, MAM’s Curatorial Assistant, to discuss toxic masculinity, mental health, patriarchal constructs, and gender identity within the art world.Recorded on 11/04/2025 

This week, Alex Pavljuk, Digital Content Strategist at the Montclair Art Museum (MAM), chats again with his colleague Melissa Casale, Digital Marketing Manager at MAM about his recent trip abroad. Having just returned from France, they talk about the Lourve robbery, differences in French vs American museums, the Sargent and Paris show, and Melissa's upcoming trip to London. Recorded on 10/28/2025

Alex is away on vaction so we are reairing episode 14 of the show where Alex sat down with Audrey Roclore, MAM's Curatorial Assistant to discover what it’s like to work behind the scenes on an art museum's curatorial staff and learn more about the ranging roles and responsibilities that surround any given museum's curatorial department.

This week, Alex Pavljuk, Digital Content Strategist at the Montclair Art Museum (MAM), chats again with his colleague Melissa Casale, Digital Marketing Manager at MAM. In this episode, they answer some more burning questions asked by our listeners. They chat about hidden-gems in the Museum, the balance of showcasing historical works and supporting working artists, and dispelling musuem misconceptions.Recorded on 10/14/2025

This special episode of "Maybe Actually Museums are for me," features four guests who join host Alex in answering the quinitsential question of the entire show, "Why are museums for you?" "Maybe, Actually, Museums are for me," is a podcast focused on inviting listeners who may have never been exposed to or had an interest in the arts to learn more about the culture of museums from somebody who, even while working in the industry, still wonders, Why is that not on display? or Should I know who painted that?Join Alex Pavljuk, Digital Content Strategist of the Montclair Art Museum, as he talks with museum professionals, other museum-goers, and exhibiting artists about how to approach and feel comfortable at a museum.Thank you for 50 incredible episodes, heres to 50 more!

Join Alex Pavljuk, Digital Content Strategist at the Montclair Art Museum (MAM), as he chats with Andy Kahnke, a MAM docent, about the many ways to experience museums, what a docent does, and why tours make a great starting point for newcomers to museums.This episode was originally recorded on 10/16/2024

This week, Alex Pavljuk, Digital Content Strategist at the Montclair Art Museum (MAM), chats again with his colleague Melissa Casale, Digital Marketing Manager at MAM. In this episode, they discuss recent headlines in the art world including a rural Danish art museum acquires a painting by Artemisia Gentileschi, and how the mystery behind the small dog featured in Rembrandt's famous, The Night Watch, 1642 was solved.Recorded on 09/23/2025

Join Alex Pavljuk, Digital Content Strategist at the Montclair Art Museum, as he speaks with Blood and Ink author Joe Pompeo about an upcoming book talk he’ll be moderating with fellow narrative nonfiction writer Michelle Young. They discuss her recent book The Art Spy, the intersection of fine art and literature, and how researchers and historical novelists draw on libraries, museums, and cultural institutions to inform their work.This episode is in association with the upcoming series of booktalks, From Resistance to Revelation: Stories of Art and Intrigue in France. In partnership with Watchung Booksellers, this three-part book talk series explores the power of art in times of war, loss, and transformation. From the streets of Nazi-occupied Paris to the galleries of the world’s great museums, each conversation will reveal how artists, curators, and everyday people work to preserve culture and make meaning during moments of upheaval.You can find tickets here—https://www.montclairartmuseum.org/resistance-revelationEpisode recorded on 09/10/2025

Join Alex Pavljuk, Digital Content Strategist at the Montclair Art Museum (MAM), as he sits down again with Audrey Roclore, MAM's Curatorial Assistant to discuss the ins and outs of gallery rotations, how a tranforms in the weeks before an openig, what its like to work closely with artists on an installation, and what new is coming for the Montclair Art Museum in the fall.Episode recorded on 09/10/2025

In this final summer bonus episode Alex revisits his chat with Eric-Paul Riege (Diné), the incredible and currently exhibiting experimental fiber and performance artist. In this episode the two talk about what it means to activate his hanging soft sculptures, the stigma often associated with performative art pieces, and the philosophy behind Riege’s works that he describes as “totems of memories”.The original episode was recorded on 09/14/2024

This week, Alex Pavljuk, Digital Content Strategist at the Montclair Art Museum (MAM), sits down once again with his colleague Melissa Casale, Digital Marketing Manager at MAM. Together, they explore what it takes to market a museum. From the philosophies behind social media and email campaigns to strategies for bringing visitors both to the museum for the first time and back again. It’s a candid, behind-the-scenes look at how digital storytelling helps keep a museum vibrant, visible, and connected to its community.Recorded on 08/26/2025

This episode of Maybe, Actually, Museums Are for Me is a little different. With summer winding down and vacation season in full swing at the Museum, Alex needed a bit more time to prep upcoming episodes. So, this week, they share a few thoughts about visiting Waves (2011), a public artwork by Tom Nussbaum installed on the Wildwood Boardwalk. Then, we're reairing Episode Two of the show, where Alex sits down with MAM’s Chief Curator, Gail Stavitsky. They discuss Gail’s path into the arts and curatorial work, how to learn to really look at art, what’s coming up at the Museum, and what first-time visitors can expect when stepping into a museum space.

This week, Alex Pavljuk, Digital Content Strategist at the Montclair Art Museum (MAM), chats with Dana Hawkins-Simons, Director of Development & CommunicationsMontclair Early Music. In this episode, they discuss the upcoming Medieval Fest coming to MAM,  the intersection of renaissance and baroque music and museums, and the importance of supporting local nonprofits.Recorded on 08/08/2025Buy tickets to Medieval Fest here—https://www.montclairearlymusic.org/events/medievalfest-2024

This week, Alex Pavljuk, Digital Content Strategist at the Montclair Art Museum (MAM), chats with Georgette Gilmore, Engagement Editor at Montclair Local. In this episode, they discuss the importance of reporting on the art world, how journalists should be approaching the arts, and the impact of reporting, about the arts and beyond, on the local level.EDITORIAL NOTE:This episode was recorded on 08/01/2025 and refrences the removal of President Trump's impeachments from a Smithsonian exhibition. Upon release of this episode the Gaurdian and other news outlets have since reported that the Smithsonian, "will restore Trump impeachment exhibits in ‘coming weeks’". 

This week, Alex Pavljuk, Digital Content Strategist at the Montclair Art Museum (MAM), chats again with his colleague Melissa Casale, Digital Marketing Manager at MAM. In this episode, they discuss recent headlines in the art world including how a Jackson Pollock painting failed to sell at auction, and that another million dollar bananna was eaten while on view in an exhibition in France.Recorded on 07/24/2025

This week on "Maybe, Actually, Museums Are for Me," Alex Pavljuk, Digital Content Strategist at the Montclair Art Museum (MAM), sits down for a conversation with friend and artist Katie Truk (@ktruk on Instagram). Katie creates dynamic fiber sculptures using pantyhose and is the perfect person to talk about abstraction. In this episode, Alex and Katie dive into what abstract art really is, how to perceive and approach it for the first time, and the wide range of artwork that is often labeled (or mislabeled) as abstract.You can see a video of Katie at work in her studio here: https://youtu.be/v372zahTlgQ?si=Vn9gUZ7CHgyeRpr6Recorded on 07/22/2025

Join Alex Pavljuk, Digital Content Strategist at the Montclair Art Museum (MAM), as he sits down again with Audrey Roclore, MAM's Curatorial Assistant to discuss the purpose of gallery rotations, how a show closing informs what replaces it, working closely with artists, and what new is coming for the Montclair Art Museum in the fall.Episode recorded on 07/15/2025

This episode of "Maybe, Actually, Museums are for me," is a little different. While Alex is busy prepping upcoming episodes, we thought we’d talk about what to expect for the show this summer, and re-air our very first episode for new listeners of the show who may not have heard the episode which started it all.

This week, Alex Pavljuk, Digital Content Strategist at the Montclair Art Museum (MAM), chats again with his colleague Melissa Casale, Digital Marketing Manager at MAM. In this episode, they answer some more burning questions asked by our listeners. They chat about things like how curatorial get large artworks into the Museum? Why MAM staffers choice to work in the arts and museum industry? And what are some museum recommendations in the Northeast?Recorded on 07/01/2025

Join Alex Pavljuk, Digital Content Strategist at the Montclair Art Museum (MAM), as he sits down with Katherine Woodward, MAM's Assistant Registrar to discuss the purpose and importance of loaning artwork, why museums do it, how it happens, and what works of MAM's are on view elsewhere in the world.Recorded on 06/17/2025

This week, Alex Pavljuk, Digital Content Strategist at the Montclair Art Museum (MAM), chats again with his colleague Melissa Casale, Digital Marketing Manager at MAM. In this episode the two cover the recent breaking news that the Louvre's staff has gone on strike in protest against overcrowding, lacking infastructure, and understaffing. They also discuss, without any influence or experience in museum design, how they would address some of the presented concerns.Recorded on 06/17/2025

This week on "Maybe, Actually, Museums Are for Me," Alex Pavljuk, Digital Content Strategist at the Montclair Art Museum (MAM) is flying solo, talking about the imporance of public programs, the Museum's first-ever Food Truck Fest & Cocktail Crawl, and why community is so vital in the genetic make up of cultural institutions big and small.Recorded on 06/10/2025

This week on "Maybe, Actually, Museums Are for Me," Alex Pavljuk, Digital Content Strategist at the Montclair Art Museum (MAM), sits down for a  with Adrienne Baxter Bell, a leading Inness scholar and Montclair resident who brings context and insight to the artist’s legacy. Together, they explore the history and lasting impact of George Inness as both a historical figure and master of landscape painting.Recorded on 05/29/2025

This week, Alex Pavljuk, Digital Content Strategist at the Montclair Art Museum (MAM), is joined by Raili, a Marketing Intern at MAM to chat about the interest of the arts in high school, whether or not teenagers even want to come to museums, and how cultural institutions can better program for a younger audience.Recorded on 05/23/2025

This week, Alex Pavljuk, Digital Content Strategist at the Montclair Art Museum (MAM), chats again with his colleague Melissa Casale, Digital Marketing Manager at MAM. In this episode, they answer some burning questions asked by our listeners. They chat about things like what is the most impactful show we've seen at any museum? Or what are the benefits of a small museums?

Join Alex Pavljuk, Digital Content Strategist at the Montclair Art Museum (MAM), as he sits down again with Audrey Roclore, MAM's Curatorial Assistant to discuss the purpose and importance of wall labels in museum galleries, how they tell a more full story about the art and artists on view, and why the insight that a youthful perspective matters.Episode recorded on 05/11/2025

This week, Alex Pavljuk, Digital Content Strategist at the Montclair Art Museum (MAM), chats again with his colleague Melissa Casale, Digital Marketing Manager at MAM. In this episode, they discuss recent headlines in the art world including how a child damaged a famous Rothko painting in the Netherlands, and the Barbara Kruger's new installation on Ukraine passenger train among other topics and conversations.Recorded on 05/05/2025

This week on "Maybe, Actually, Museums Are for Me," Alex Pavljuk, Digital Content Strategist at the Montclair Art Museum (MAM), sits down for a third time with MAM’s Chief Curator, Gail Stavitsky. Together, they explore the art and enduring impact of George Inness on the eve of his 200th birthday—his influence on Montclair, the newly rotated works in his permanent gallery at MAM, and why he deserves a place in the conversation about great American landscape painters.Recorded on 04/22/2025

In this special Sunday bonus episode of "Maybe, Actually, Museums are for Me," we're thrilled to welcome Christian Allaire — Senior Fashion and Style Writer at Vogue and author of two books, including his newly released memoir, "From the Rez to the Runway: Forging My Path in Fashion," now available in stores.Join host Alex Pavljuk, the Digital Content Strategist at the Montclair Art Museum (MAM), as he sat down with Christian to explore the intersection of fine art and fashion, what it means to be an Indigenous voice in the fashion industry, and the journey of writing a memoir — among much more.Christian will be appearing at MAM on April 29, 2025, as part of the Succeed2gether Montclair Literary Festival. The evening will include a reading from From the Rez to the Runway, an audience Q&A, and a meet-and-greet book signing. Copies of "From the Rez to the Runway," and Christian’s first book, "The Power of Style," will be available for purchase.Sign up today by visiting, https://www.montclairartmuseum.org/events/events-and-programs/rez-runway-book-talk-christian-allaireRecorded on 04/25/2025

Join Alex Pavljuk, Digital Content Strategist at the Montclair Art Museum (MAM), as he sits down for a second time with actress, host, and Montclair Story Salon founder Liz Samuel to explore the intersection of arts, storytelling, and culture deeper then before. They’ll jump into a recap of the Montclair Story Salon hosted here at MAM, what students can expect to learn from Liz's upcoming storytelling workshop, and the ability to find stories in every part of our lives, including through art.Registration for "Master Class: Personal Storytelling through Art" is open now at the link here. The event will take place over the course of 4 weeks, beginning on Friday, May 16, 2025.Episode recorded on 04/21/2025

This week, host Alex Pavljuk, the Digital Content Strategist at the Montclair Art Museum (MAM), sits down for a second time with Ira Wagner, the Executive Director of MAM, to discuss two new photography shows at the Museum. During the course of our conversation, we unexpectedly dive deep into the question of whether or not photography is an art form. Alongside this, we discuss movements like Pictorialism and the history of photography within arts institutions.This episode was recorded on 04/11/2025

This episode of "Maybe, Actually, Museums are for me," is a little different. While Alex is busy prepping upcoming episodes, we thought we’d hand the mic over to our friends at "The Montclair Pod," and give you a taste of what their show is all about.We’re big fans of "The Montclair Pod," and everything Farnoosh, Michael, and Ali are doing in our community. Like us, they’re passionate about helping people engage more deeply with Montclair—learning about the people, places, and stories that make it such a vibrant and inclusive place to live. While our shows may sound different, our goals often overlap, and this week’s episode is a great example of that. In this special preview, you’ll hear a range of conversations centered around the arts in Montclair. Known for its thriving creative scene, Montclair is home to actors, artists, musicians, poets, and performers.You’ll hear from acclaimed visual artist Nanette Carter, whose work is currently on view here at The Montclair Art Museum. Tom Hall, Artistic Director of the Montclair Film Festival, shares what’s ahead for one of New Jersey’s top cultural events. Jazz legend and founder of Seed Artists, Pheeroan akLaff, reflects on the town’s musical legacy. And actress Kristen Connolly talks about growing up in Montclair and what it’s like to return as both a parent and working artist—plus much more.You can find The Montclair Pod wherever you stream your podcasts. Enjoy the episode, and see you next week for our regularly scheduled program!

Happy Volunteer Appreciation Month!This week, join Alex Pavljuk, Digital Content Strategist at the Montclair Art Museum (MAM), as he chats with Andrea Ferreira, Volunteer and Intern Coordinator at MAM. In this episode, they discuss the importance of volunteers within the arts, why people should give back to their community, and how to get involved in MAM's volunteer program.Recorded on 01/01/2025

This week, Alex Pavljuk, Digital Content Strategist at the Montclair Art Museum (MAM), chats again with his colleague Melissa Casale, Digital Marketing Manager at MAM. In this episode, they discuss recent headlines in the art world, including the 35th anniversary of the Gardner Museum theft and the private auction purchase of "Buste de Femme" (1953) by Pablo Picasso for €4.3 million, among other notable art news from the past month.Recorded on 03/19/2025

Join Alex Pavljuk, Digital Content Strategist at the Montclair Art Museum (MAM), as he chats with Sarah Sense (Chitimacha/Choctaw) [@sarahjewellsense on Instagram], a visionary artist knwon for her unique approach to weaving. Sense is an exhibiting artist in MAM's landmark exhibition, "Interwoven Power: Native Knowledge / Native Art," and a longtime friend and collaborator of the Museum. In this episode, Sarah speaks with Alex while she is actively at work in her home studio in Califorina. Their conversation explores the physical process of creating her art, the ways she incorporates her family into her work, and the meditative nature of her practice among so much else.Recorded on 03/11/2025

Join Alex Pavljuk, Digital Content Strategist at the Montclair Art Museum (MAM), as he sits down with Jonathan Lee, Producer of "Art Meets Jazz," and member of the African American Cultural Comittee (AACC) to discuss the the intersection between fine arts and jazz music, the importance of cultural programming at the Montclair Art Museum, the New Jersey jazz scene, and a behind the scenes look at how events like "Art Meets Jazz" get produced.Recorded on 03/04/2025