This week, 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

Join Alex Pavljuk, Digital Content Strategist at the Montclair Art Museum (MAM), as he chats again with his colleague, Melissa Casale, Digital Marketing Manager at MAM, about what exhibitions are on view at the Museum this fall, what some of their favorite works on view are, and why this is such a good moment to experience the Montclair Art Museum.
 
This episode was recorded on 10/31/2024

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.

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 recorded on 10/16/2024

"Maybe, Actually, Museums Are for Me" takes a spooky turn in this special Halloween episode, as two of the Museum's staff members—Susan Cancro from the Education Department and Alex Diaz from Facilities—share the alleged ghost stories that make them believe MAM might be haunted.

This episode was recorded on 10/22/24

Join Alex Pavljuk, Digital Content Strategist at the Montclair Art Museum (MAM), as he chats with Osanna Urbay, the Chief Registrar and Exhibition Designer at MAM. In this episode the two discuss lesser known stories of the art on view, the ways that people may misunderstand what happens behind the scenes of a show, and the importance of not touching the art.

This episode was recorded on 10/07/2024

Join Alex Pavljuk, Digital Content Strategist at the Montclair Art Museum (MAM), as he chats 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”.

This episode was recorded on 09/14/2024

Join Alex Pavljuk, Digital Content Strategist at the Montclair Art Museum (MAM), as he chats for a second time with his colleague, Melissa Casale, the Digital Marketing Manager at MAM. In this episode the two talk about about art history, the ways that people can and should percive museums and the art on view within them, and what new visitors can expect to see at MAM in the coming months.

This episode was recorded on 07/12/2024

Join Alex Pavljuk, Digital Content Strategist at the Montclair Art Museum (MAM), as he chats with Frances Smith, Associate Director of Development, who handles special events and membership at the Museum. In this third episode of "Maybe, Actually, Museums are for me." they discuss her transition from being a lawyer in Canada to a museum professional, and her rapid introduction to the arts and the importance of bridging community and museums.

This episode was recorded on 04/13/2024

Join Alex Pavljuk, Digital Content Strategist at the Montclair Art Museum (MAM), as he chats with MAM's Chief Curator, Gail Stavitsky, about her journey into the arts and curatorial work, the process of learning how to look at art, upcoming exhibitions at the Museum, and a variety of other experiences visitors can expect when stepping into a museum for the first time.

This episode was recorded on 04/01/2024

Join Alex Pavljuk, Digital Content Strategist at the Montclair Art Museum (MAM), as he chats with his colleague, Melissa Casale, Digital Marketing Manager at MAM, about their early museum experiences and what new visitors can expect when stepping into a museum for the first time.

This episode was recorded on 03/09/2024

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

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

Join Alex Pavljuk, Digital Content Strategist at the Montclair Art Museum (MAM), as he sits down with Jessica Beniquez, MAM's Retail and Visitor Services Manager to discuss the method and stategy of stocking a museum store, the importance of elevating and selling the art of local artists, and the intersection between fashion and the arts. In addition to this broad conversation, the two chat about the Museum's cafe and the importance of offering more to visitors than just whats on the walls, and why the community should see museum's as community spaces.

Stick around until the end of the episode for a special preview of "The Montclair Pod," a new podcast hosted by our friends Alexandra Privitera, Michael Schreiber, and Farnoosh Torabi. They deliver in-depth coverage of local topics with a candid perspective and compelling journalism. Listen to "The Montclair Pod" wherever you stream podcasts!

Episode recorded on 02/28/2025

Join Alex Pavljuk, Digital Content Strategist at the Montclair Art Museum (MAM), as he sits down with Wanda Croudy, Interim Committee Chair of the African American Cultural Committee (AACC) at MAM. Discover what the AACC is all about, its impact on arts and culture at the Museum, the events and programming it drives, and the committee’s vision for the future for both MAM and the community—among so much more.

Recorded on 02/20/2025

Join Alex Pavljuk, Digital Content Strategist at the Montclair Art Museum (MAM), as he sits down with actress, host, and Montclair Story Salon founder Liz Samuel to explore the intersection of arts, storytelling, and culture. They’ll dive into the history of oral storytelling, what a story salon is, and the role of community arts institutions—plus much more.

Tickets for "Blank Canvas: A Salon to Support MAM" are available at montclairartmuseum.org. The event will take place on Thursday, February 27, 2025.

Episode recorded on 02/13/2025

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.," join Alex Pavljuk, Digital Content Strategist at the Montclair Art Museum (MAM), as he sits down with the remarkable visual artist Nanette Carter [@carter_nanette on Instagram], whose first-ever museum retrospective is currently on view at MAM. 
Nanette and Alex discuss her youth in Montclair, how her work reflects the present social temperature, the abstraction and expressionism within her collage art, and the materiality of her creations.

You can view, "Nanette Carter: A Question of Balance" at MAM until July 6, 2025.

This week, Alex Pavljuk, Digital Content Strategist at the Montclair Art Museum (MAM), chats again with his colleague, Melissa Casale, the Digital Marketing Manager at MAM. In this episode, the two talk about a couple of recent headlines in the art world including the upcoming renovations at the Louvre among other things.

Recorded on 01/29/2025

*Editorial Note*

On February 4, 2025, Hyperallergic reported that the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam determined the painting is not an original by Vincent van Gogh. This contradicts LMI Group International, a New York-based art authentication company, which claimed the painting's authenticity in a 456-page report citing multiple scientific tests, as well as historical and data analysis.

Join Alex Pavljuk, Digital Content Strategist at the Montclair Art Museum (MAM), as he sits down with Audrey Roclore, MAM's Curatorial Assistant to discuss the purpose and importance of collection based shows at Museums. In addition to this broad conversation, the two chat about the Museum's own upcoming collection based exhibition, "A to Sze: Collecting at MAM (2000-2025)," and it's companion show, "Platinum to Postcards: Collecting at MAM (2000-2025)," both of which feature among MAM's most recent and ambitious acquisitions. They are presented at the Montclair Art Museum for the first time, along with 23 other works, rarely or never displayed before.

Episode recorded on 01/23/2025

Join Alex Pavljuk, Digital Content Strategist at the Montclair Art Museum (MAM), as he chats with Tyler Chan [@profdaydreamer on Instagram], a fantastic documentary photographer and soon to be exhibiting artist here at MAM. In this episode the two talk about his upcoming show, "Montclair Snap Memories," his ability to blend into his environments and catch his subjects with their gaurd down, and what it's like to live and photograph overseas at such a young age.

Recorded on 01/07/2025

This week, join Alex Pavljuk, Digital Content Strategist at the Montclair Art Museum (MAM), as he chats with Celene Ryan, Assistant Director of Community and Access Programs at MAM. In this episode, they discuss the exciting new program from our friends at NJPAC called ArtsRX, which MAM will be participating in. As an ArtsRx participant, you receive free access to arts and cultural activities throughout Newark. And you never have to go alone, you can bring up to three friends, family members or caregivers.

Your next step is to contact your ArtsRx Connector at ArtsRx@njpac.org or 973.297.5825 to choose your activity. There’s something for everyone when you join ArtsRx, where creativity meets passion.

Recorded on 01/10/2025

This week on "Maybe, Actually, Museums are for me," Alex Pavljuk, Digital Content Strategist at the Montclair Art Museum (MAM), chats for a second time with MAM's Chief Curator, Gail Stavitsky, about what role art plays in society, culture, and community. They also touch on the political nature of some art movements, and what we as viewers and visitors can take away from experiencing the arts in this present moment in time.

Recorded on 12/18/2024

Happy New Year! Join Alex Pavljuk, Digital Content Strategist at the Montclair Art Museum (MAM), as he chats with his colleague, Melissa Casale, Digital Marketing Manager at MAM, as they recap their trip to Washington DC to visit new museums and exhibitions, what it's like to explore a new museum for the first time, and finding connections to MAM at different institutions. 

This episode was recorded on 12/20/2024

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

As this is a weekly show, we occasionally encounter conflicts of interest, such as major holidays. Instead of releasing one of our typical interviews, we wanted to ensure that no one missed out on a full-length episode of "Maybe, Actually, Museums Are for Me" while celebrating with loved ones.

In place of our standard episode, we’re sharing this supplementary five-minute update on what’s coming to MAM in 2025!

Record on 12/19/2024

Join Alex Pavljuk, Digital Content Strategist at the Montclair Art Museum (MAM), as he sits 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.

Recorded on 12/12/2024

Join Alex Pavljuk, Digital Content Strategist at the Montclair Art Museum (MAM), as he chats with Renelle White Buffalo (Sičáŋǧu Lakota, an enrolled member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe) [@buffaloroaming on Instagram], the remarkable and currently exhibiting abstract painter and visual artist. In this episode the two talk about moving away from home, the use and inspiration behind her color palette, and Renelle’s connection to land through her art.

Recorded on 12/02/2024

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), chats again with his colleague, Melissa Casale, the Digital Marketing Manager at MAM. In this episode, the two talk about a couple of recent headlines in the art world and an upcoming trip to view some exhibits in Washington, DC.

Recorded on 11/26/2024

This week, host Alex Pavljuk, the Digital Content Strategist at the Montclair Art Museum (MAM), sits down with Ira Wagner, the Executive Director of MAM, to reaffirm the Museum's mission statement, discuss the importance of community, and explore how art can be a tool for change, progress, inspiration, and education.

This episode was recorded on 11/21/24

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-allaire

Recorded on 04/25/2025

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

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.

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 05/11/2025
Episode 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