The Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art monthly podcast

The JMMTA podcast
  • 3.0 (2)
  • Society & Culture

Nestled into the side of Lighthouse Hill, the Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art is a uniquely peaceful retreat. The museum presents the art and culture of Tibet and the Himalayas to a world audience in order to educate about and to inspire others in the value of this significant cultural heritage. Established in 1945, the Museum was founded by the pioneering American woman Jacques Marchais (1887-1948), an important collector and respected expert on Tibetan art. Designed by Marchais, the rustic complex of fieldstone buildings resembles a Tibetan mountain monastery. These historic buildings represent the first Himalayan style architecture be built in the United States, and it was the first Museum world devoted solely to Tibetan art. The surrounding landscape design, which Marchais named the ‘Samadhi Garden’, features a fish pond, meditation cells, and many of her original plantings. The Museum’s distinctive setting highlights and enhances the experience of viewing the art within.

  1. Apr 9

    Meg Ventrudo - LightHouse Hill part 2 The Potala of The West

    Part 2 of The Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art's history of LightHouse Hill brings us to the hill's most constant sentinel, other than the lighthouse itself, The Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art. In part 1 of this history, lifelong Staten Islander Charles DeStephano brought us up to the 1940's with what his investigations of the Hill revealed to him. Within part 2 there is lots of overlap in time with part 1 so be sure to give that a listen too if you'd missed that. In part 2 the Museum's former executive director, Meg Ventrudo explains how the Tibetan Museum came to be, and of the intriguing woman who's lifelong brain-child became a living prophesy to a philosophy yet to appear within the consciousness of the western mind. You will hear how Jacques Marchais' passion manifest, went on to become one of the first beacons to an eastern philosophy destined to end up in Howell New Jersey, and inspire the rest of the world toward peace and empathy.

    Meg Ventrudo - LightHouse Hill part 2 The Potala of The West

  2. 03/30/2025

    Charles DeStephano Tells part 1 of The Story of LightHouse Hill

    Staten Island's Charles DeStephano gives us part 1 of The Story of LightHouse Hill. Not only does this hight point hold a historic Lighthouse but many a famed personage lived up on Staten Island's noble hill. This spot has been a refuge for city dwellers since it had been noticed in the 19th century by well heeled travelers from the more crowded areas of the city, here they would find respite from the crowds and rat-race of the fast paced urban areas where they lived and worked. Along with Charlie's personal memories, part 1 will start with how the hill was formed and bring you up to the 1940s where, in part 2, Meg Ventrudo will continue the history, and flesh out how The Jacques Marchais came about, and other recent notable happenings that saw LightHouse Hill maintain its unique place in so many visitors and residents hearts, that it had held over the last century, and then some.

    Charles DeStephano Tells part 1 of The Story of LightHouse Hill

  3. 08/28/2020

    JMMTA Bhutan Tour 2018 Part 2

    In 2018 a group, gathered through The Jacques Marchais, went on a tour of Bhutan. In this podcast Meg Ventrudo, former executive director of the Museum, sits down with Museum advisor Rudy Bacich to talk about her impressions of The Land of The Tiger's Nest. This is the conclusion of our talk on the Jacques Marchais' fascinating tour through the unique nation of Bhutan. Keep listening once our discussion has ended as we were able to obtain a bonus description of the Museum's 2013 visit to Bhutan, by way of Tibet, given by board member Peg Harrington, to relay even more background on this magical Kingdom where so much of this Museum's collection originates from.

    JMMTA Bhutan Tour 2018 Part 2

  4. 08/21/2020

    JMMTA Bhutan Tour 2018 part 1

    In 2018 a group, gathered through The Jacques Marchais, went on a tour of Bhutan. In this podcast Meg Ventrudo, former executive director of the Museum, sits down with Museum advisor Rudy Bacich to talk about her impressions of The Land of The Tiger's Nest. This is the first half of our talk on the Jacques Marchais' fascinating tour through the unique nation of Bhutan.

    JMMTA Bhutan Tour 2018 part 1

  5. 02/13/2018

    JMMTA Podcast 9 Khenpo Pema Wangdak Pt - 2

    We were fortunate to have had the opportunity to talk with Khenpo Pema about his life and experience of Buddhism as a native to its traditions, where cultivating a spiritual life is a cultural norm and as typical as going to prep school and pursuing a professional career path. As interest and intrigue in all forms of Buddhism and the related core concept of mindfulness have recently undergone renewed popularity in the West, we also asked about whether—and how—a serious student born and raised here might approach studies of concepts, and ethical guidelines for “becoming a better, more self aware, less angry person." Lauren Bielski's inquisitive questioning of Khenpo Pema Wangdak help us get a more in-depth picture of Tibetan belief, and Buddhist philosophy. This podcast is part two of this discussion. Be sure to listen to part one of this talk which was posted January 2018. Later in the year there will be a video of this interview so, if you find the insights revealed by Lama Pema to be helpful, be sure to check back for future podcast interviews with Lama Pema or go to TibetanMuseum.org to watch the video of this talk from the library at The Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art when it is available.

    JMMTA Podcast 9 Khenpo Pema Wangdak Pt - 2

  6. 01/09/2018

    JMMTA Podcast 8 Khenpo Pema Wangdak Pt - 1

    Tasha Delek! And Happy 2018. On an unusually warm day in early December, Lauren Bielski sat down to discuss mindfulness and how students in the west might best investigate Buddhist ideas with Khenpo Pema Wangdak. This austere but gentle person was born in Western Tibet, raised in India, and became a monk in the Sakya tradition. Sakya is known for its systematic approach to tantric teachings called the lamdrey—the path and the goal—and for its rigorous application of Buddhist logic. Khenpo Pema settled in NYC to teach back in 1982, becoming the first of a younger generation of Tibetan teachers to settle here in the U.S. We'd talked with Khenpo Pema about his life and experience of Buddhism as a native to its traditions, where cultivating a spiritual life is a cultural norm and as typical as going to prep school and pursuing a professional career path. As interest and intrigue in all forms of Buddhism and the related core concept of mindfulness have recently undergone renewed popularity in the West, we also asked about whether—and how—a serious student born and raised here might approach studies of concepts, and ethical guidelines for “becoming a better, more self aware, less angry person.” This podcast is part one of several more to come from this discussion. Later in the year there will be a video of this interview so, if you find the insights revealed by Lama Pema to be helpful, be sure to check back for future podcast interviews with him or go to TibetanMuseum.org to watch the video of this talk from the library at The Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art when it is available.

    JMMTA Podcast 8 Khenpo Pema Wangdak Pt - 1

  7. 12/22/2017

    JMMTA Podcast 7 Jackie Hawken Pt - 2

    Happy holidays all of you fans of the Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art's monthly podcasts, here is part two of Jackie Hawken's, workshop on the concept of mindfulness, and self-compassion for negative mindstates. Jackie Hawken is the author of "Mindfulness for a Broken Heart", and has been visiting the states, giving clarifying talks on mindfulness for some time now with her straightforward, easy to grasp, ways of pumping up our personal mindfulness muscle, especially useful over the stressfulness of the holiday season. In this two part talk, Jackie Hawken, of Mindfulness Bristol in the UK, explains what mindfulness can do to ease life's burdens, and give you a road map for finding peace in some of the least calming situations. Part two of Ms. Hawken's discourse entreats us to be more considerate of ourselves. In around 10 minutes we are given a clear understanding of the difference between selfishness, and being kind to oneself, and how keeping these key concepts in mind can make life less stressful and fulfilling.

    JMMTA Podcast 7 Jackie Hawken Pt - 2

  8. 11/20/2017

    JMMTA Podcast 6 Jackie Hawken Part - I

    Calling all mindfulness travelers out there, we have a treat for you over the 2017 holiday season, a two part sit down discussion, and workshop on the concept of mindfulness, and self-compassion for negative mindstates by Jackie Hawken of Mindfulness Bristol in the United Kingdom. Jackie Hawken is the author of "Mindfulness for a Broken Heart", and has been visiting the US, giving clarifying talks on mindfulness for some time now with her straightforward, easy to grasp, ways of exercising our personal mindfulness muscle, especially useful over those Thanksgiving dinners with family. Jackie will show you what the tool of mindfulness can do for you to ease life's burdens, and find peace in some of the least calming situations. Part one of Ms. Hawken's discourse features some guided meditation so keep this one on hand whenever you need a refresher to chase away negative thought, be more considerate of yourself or just blend with your favorite color.

    JMMTA Podcast 6 Jackie Hawken Part - I
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About

Nestled into the side of Lighthouse Hill, the Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art is a uniquely peaceful retreat. The museum presents the art and culture of Tibet and the Himalayas to a world audience in order to educate about and to inspire others in the value of this significant cultural heritage. Established in 1945, the Museum was founded by the pioneering American woman Jacques Marchais (1887-1948), an important collector and respected expert on Tibetan art. Designed by Marchais, the rustic complex of fieldstone buildings resembles a Tibetan mountain monastery. These historic buildings represent the first Himalayan style architecture be built in the United States, and it was the first Museum world devoted solely to Tibetan art. The surrounding landscape design, which Marchais named the ‘Samadhi Garden’, features a fish pond, meditation cells, and many of her original plantings. The Museum’s distinctive setting highlights and enhances the experience of viewing the art within.

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