Podcast
Maybe, Actually, Museums are for me.
Hosted by MAMmontclair · EN
No museology or art history degree required! 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 sometimes 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 (MAM), as he talks with museum professionals, other museum-goers, and exhibiting artists about how to approach and feel comfortable exploring museums.
Maybe, Actually, Museums are for me is a podcast by the Montclair Art Museum. Visit us at https://linktr.ee/themontclairartmuseum for more information on how to get involved, or visit MAM!
Join Alex Pavljuk, Digital Content Strategist of the Montclair Art Museum (MAM), as he talks with museum professionals, other museum-goers, and exhibiting artists about how to approach and feel comfortable exploring museums.
Maybe, Actually, Museums are for me is a podcast by the Montclair Art Museum. Visit us at https://linktr.ee/themontclairartmuseum for more information on how to get involved, or visit MAM!
12episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
An Ingestion of Beauty. | From the "Read it Now" Series
6d ago00:05:59Tap to summarizeThe 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 "An Ingestion of Beauty" is an interpritation of the artwork, Keeper, byMarlene Dumas. 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
Transcribe →A conversation with Ben F. Jones
2w ago00:32:12Tap to summarizeThis week on "Maybe, Actually, Museums are for me.," Alex walks the audience through his conversation with renowned visual artist, Ben F. Jones. Although not intended for the podcast, the conversation they had was so informative and speical it felt right to find a way to share the full breath of Ben's wisdom and artistic philosophy in this long-form way. Ben F. Jones is an artist, activist, and educator, who uses his art to bring awareness to the plight of humanity throughout the world. A native of Paterson, NJ, Ben first became involved with the Montclair Art Museum (MAM) in the 1980s as a founding member of the African American Cultural Committee where his work has since been acquired and displayed as part of MAM's permanent collection of art. “I want to lift people up, give them a sense of empowerment and redemption.” -Ben Jones
Transcribe →My Nude Tights. | From the "Read it Now" Series
May 600:05:47Tap to summarizeThe 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
Transcribe →European vs American art museum experiences
Apr 2200:42:49Tap to summarizeThis 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
Transcribe →Restless. | From the "Read it Now" Series
Apr 1500:07:00Tap to summarizeThe 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.
Transcribe →A conversation with Nick Cave
Apr 800:56:58Tap to summarizeThis 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.
Transcribe →Maybe, I wasn't supposed to see it. | From the "Read it Now" Series
Apr 100:07:20Tap to summarizeThe 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.
Transcribe →Why Does Public Art Matter?
Mar 2600:34:27Tap to summarizeThis 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
Transcribe →Art collecting & Jazz (a conversation with Brandee Younger)
Mar 1100:23:29Tap to summarizeThis 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
Transcribe →"Maybe, Actually, Museums are for me," Returns!
Mar 400:04:54Tap to summarizeThis 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
Transcribe →