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.," 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, 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, 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