Frequently Asked Questions

Why "Mambo"?

I got the nickname "Mambo Maya" in the first year of my undergrad, mostly because I went out dancing three times a week.  It morphed into "Mambolica" and if you Google that, you'll find me in all kinds of places.  Mambolica is me, but I wanted to separate this blog from the rest of my online brand, which tends toward the ultra geeky just a little, so I've gone back to my roots.

Of course, I'm also "MiRSCH", but I only use that for my artwork now.  I've signed my artwork that way since grade 8 or 9.

So you work in a museum?

Yup, for just about 20 years.  I decided to make it my official career about a decade ago.  Since 1994, I've worked and volunteered in seven different museums and galleries, big and small, across Canada. I am currently the Manager and Curator at The Secrets of Radar Museum, in London, Ontario.

Did you go to school for that?

Do I detect a smirk?  Yes, I did go to school for it.  Twice.  I attended Fleming College's Museum Management & Curatorship post-degree diploma, 2004-05, and went on to get an MA with Merit from the University of Leicester in Interpretive Studies (Dept. of Museum Studies), 2010.

Museum professionals are highly educated people.  It's not easy to find stable employment in the field, because arts, culture, and heritage funding is sporatic and undervalued, but yes, we take it seriously and we do it because we love it.  

What do you actually do?

The short answer is "everything."  Seriously, small museums, like the one in which I am currently employed, require staff and volunteers to undertake just about every possible role, from research and exhibition development, to grant writing and fundraising, to developing and leading educational programming, to media relations, to janitorial duties.  The bigger the museum, the fewer things you do, but the more expert you become.  Both are good, but they're pretty different.

So are you an expert?

In what?  I'm a professional museum curator and social historian, with serious research interests and professional expertise in several areas.  You could say I'm an expert in museums, I suppose, but I am not comfortable with the label.  My research interests include: museums (duh), museology, material culture, non-formal learning and engagement, Upper Canada and early Canadian history and settlement patterns, Ontario Black history, World War II radar history and Western European resistance, 19th and early 20th century costume and textile.

What are you actually like?

I'm a nerd.  A geek.  I have a partner named Glenn who is very patient.  I have cats, they sit in boxes.  I'm not ashamed to admit that I play video games.  I read books.  Sometimes I try to write books.  I enjoy travelling, eating, cooking, drinking craft beer.  I really like British comedies. 

Why did you make this blog?  Aren't there enough blogs out there?  No one actually reads blogs anymore, do they?

People seem to like it when I talk about museums, my research and experiences, or so it seems.  I suppose there are other museum blogs out there, some of which I do thoroughly enjoy reading, and probably lots of them are better than mine.  No one says you have to read this one.  Maybe no one will.  This blog is for me to put down museum-ish thoughts and you're welcome to come along for the ride.