American Museum of Ceramic Art / AMOCA

03/23/2023

We are falling apart without you! 😉

Pictured: Viola Frey's "Reclining Man" (1986), collection of AMOCA; in pieces as we de-install Breaking Ground: Women in California Clay (Sept 10, 2022-March 12, 2023) and prepare for our next exhibitions.

Your support helps us keep it together and enables thousands of visitors to experience the power of ceramic art! Your donation or membership contribution to AMOCA sustains our exhibitions, conservation, research, and educational and studio programs. Learn more at https://www.amoca.org/give/

03/22/2023

Spring is springing towards our next AMOCA Family Workshop! Come join us on April 8th to explore nature's wondrous textures in clay! We'll share the stories of different plants and natural forms and you'll leave with your own botanical designs transformed into vases, trays, ornaments, and more 🌿 Family Workshop registration includes museum admission for the day of the event. Sign ups are now open at https://www.amoca.org/events/

03/21/2023

Here's a sneak peek into the catalog cover for "From a Gift to a Collection: Igal & Diane Silber" -- the exhibition opens at AMOCA on April 1, and Bookmobile is printing these full-color beauties as we speak! Once production is complete, exhibition catalogs will be available for purchase at the museum store in person and online.

Learn more about the upcoming exhibition: https://www.amoca.org/upcoming-exhibitions/collectors-silber/

Pictured: catalog cover featuring Jindra Viková's "Whispering." Ceramic, 1997. Gift of Igal and Diane Silber.

An exhibition catalog in production (with a fantastic cover) for the American Museum of Ceramic Art, From a Gift to a Collection: Igal & Diane Silber. Artwork shown is Whispering, by Jindra Vikova. More on the exhibit, which opens April 1, at https://bit.ly/404gMjY

03/18/2023

Our exhibition galleries may be in transition, but we are still open and ready to serve you! AMOCA is open to the public Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 11 AM-4PM, and our current exhibitions include "The Artists of Mettlach," which presents a selection of works from the Villeroy and Boch Mettlach Collection (donated by Robert D. and Colette D. Wilson) & "Nick Vest: Works Made in Residence," on view March 17-26, featuring new work created by the artist during his year-long residency in the AMOCA studios.

Learn more and plan your visit at www.amoca.org

Pictured: Quidenus plate, part of AMOCA's Mettlach collection

03/16/2023

Artist in Residence Nick Vest’s pop-up exhibition opens tomorrow! Featuring new work created during Vest's long-term residency in the AMOCA studios, "Works Made in Residence" will be on view March 17–26, 2023. Don't miss your chance to see what our has been working on!

Learn more about this exhibition--and reserve your free ticket for the public reception on Saturday, March 18--by visiting https://www.amoca.org/upcoming-exhibitions/nick-vest-air-pop-up/

Nick Vest () is a practicing artist based in Jingdezhen, and co-proprietor of MenLo Gallery and Studio. Born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, he received his MFA from Kansas State University and his BFA at Alfred University. Vest has been a resident artist at Shangyu Celadon Modern International Ceramic Art Center, The Gaya Ceramic Art Center, and The Qionglai Ceramic Center, among others. Vest is in residence at AMOCA from September 2022 through March 2023.

Pictured:

Nick Vest, Work in progress, 2023. Wood, cardboard, tile, cast, bowling pin, ceramic.

Washington Crossing the Delaware. Ceramic

A They and Their Books
Ceramic, Books

Cartridge Display Units. Ceramic, Cordierite, Variable Nintendo 64 Cartridges

03/14/2023

We 🧡 coil building with our community ~ Here are some photos of this experience with 7th grade students in Pomona. For many youth, the Mud Mobile is their first experience with clay. They learn how to pinch, attach, sculpt, and consider the actions of their artistry!

If you are interested in bringing a Mud Mobile class to your school, please contact us at [email protected] or visit our website for details: https://www.amoca.org/education/tours/

03/10/2023

Friendly reminder that there's still time to apply for our 2023 High School Ceramics Exhibition! The deadline to apply is this Sunday, 3/12 at 11:59pm. We cannot wait to "oooh" and "aaaah" at all your amazing hard work!☺ To learn more details and apply, please visit: https://2023annualhighschoolexhibition.artcall.org/

Pictured: Vase by Hannah Yared, award winner from the 2022 exhibition

03/09/2023

Now's a great time to become an AMOCA Member! Admission is always free for members, and there's just one weekend left to view Breaking Ground: Women in California Clay! Come on out to Pomona to see works by 44 artists who have defined—and redefined—ceramics over the past 100 years.

Annual AMOCA membership starts at just $50, and members will also be able to explore upcoming 2023 exhibitions, including "From a Gift to a Collection: Igal and Diane Silber," opening April 1 and "Making in Between: Q***r Clay," opening May 6.

Ready to renew your membership or become a new AMOCA Member? Learn more and join at https://www.amoca.org/membership/

Pictured: Nancy Selvin, Notes and Notebook, terracotta, wood, mixed media, 2001; vases and installation wall by Anna Valdez, 2022; Magdalena Frimkess, Untitled Cups, stoneware, glaze, 2002; detail of Con o Sin? Christina Erives, earthenware, 2022. All on view at AMOCA through March 12, 2023.

03/08/2023

Tomorrow we will be joined virtually by and , incredible artists from AMOCA's Breaking Ground exhibition. We will discuss the impact of a feminist perspective on the world of ceramics. Exploring how they've shaped the ceramics world we see today.

💬 Tune in and don't miss out on the chance to ask questions and connect with fellow ceramic enthusiasts during the Q&A session. For more information, and to register, follow https://www.amoca.org/events/

Image

Jenny Hata Blumenfield
Smoke and Mirrors
Ceramic, Lucite
2021

03/07/2023

Yoshiro Ikeda (1947-2014) was a first generation Japanese American ceramic artist. Yoshiro’s inspiration came from nature and his traditional Japanese education. Ikeda achieved complex surfaces on his work by performing multiple firings between glaze applications.

Ikeda began his studies in architecture at Portland State University (OR) before transitioning to the ceramics department to earn his Bachelor’s degree. He earned a Master of Fine Arts degree at the University of California, Santa Barbara in 1977. He was head of the ceramics department at Kansas State University from 1978-2012.

These works by Ikeda are part of a gift from the collection of Diane & Igal Silber and will be on display at AMOCA beginning April 1. Come see these beautiful works in person!



Yoshiro Ikeda (1947-2014)
Morning Mist, 1987 & Love Boat series, 1982
stoneware and glazes

03/06/2023

Women's History Month Spotlight: Beth Ann Gerstein of Women in California Clay - California Humanities

Did you catch this recent interview with California Humanities and AMOCA's Executive Director Beth Ann Gerstein as part of Cal Humanities' Women's History Month Spotlight?

Click through to get some insight into the work we've been doing here at AMOCA:
https://calhum.org/women-in-california-clay-interview/

We are so proud to have received a Humanities for All project grant and are so grateful for support from California Humanities for Women in California Clay. Hope you can come out and see this brilliant exhibition, on view through March 12, 2023.

Above: Breaking Ground: Women in California Clay at the American Museum of Ceramic Art (AMOCA) in Pomona, California. Photo courtesy of AMOCA. In recognition of Women’s History Month, we interviewed […]

03/06/2023

Don't miss your chance to see Breaking Ground: Women in California Clay! This exhibition is on view at AMOCA through Sunday, March 12. Make your plan to visit this weekend! AMOCA will be open Friday/Saturday/Sunday from 11AM-4PM. Learn more at https://www.amoca.org/visit/

Breaking Ground: Women in California Clay celebrates 44 artists who have defined—and redefined—ceramics over the past 100 years. Many of the Golden State’s most innovative and impactful ceramic artists in the 20th and 21st centuries are women who faced adversity due to gender inequality and were often ignored or overlooked in favor of their male counterparts. These incredibly determined women pushed forward, driven by creativity and tenacity.

Are you an AMOCA member? Don't forget that members can also visit the museum this Wednesday and Thursday during Member Bonus Days!

Pictured: Crystal Morey, The RePlanting, 2021. Porcelain. 12.5 x 8 x 6 inches.

03/03/2023

First Fridays are here again! 😀

During our monthly First Fridays, you can visit the museum and choose your own ticket prices! Thanks to generous support from AMOCA’s Board of Directors, Museum admission for First Fridays at AMOCA is pay what you can (while tickets last).

For more details, and to reserve your First Friday tickets, visit https://www.amoca.org/events/first-fridays/

03/02/2023

Are you a college student? Have summer plans? Come work with us!

AMOCA is hiring a paid Curatorial/Interpretation Intern through the Getty Marrow Undergraduate Internship Program! The selected intern will learn how to plan exhibitions, install and deinstall artwork, research and write interpretive labels, and learn object handling techniques. They'll also gain skills in object-based education techniques, arts administration skills, and best practices in public engagement. And, they'll have fun!

Learn more about the position and how to apply by visiting https://www.amoca.org/employment/

03/02/2023

The March AMOCA newsletter went out today! You won't want to miss all the fun we have in store this month -- new openings, virtual events, new classes, member previews, and more! 🎉 Read on: https://www.amoca.org/newsletter/archives/2023-march/

If you don't see our newsletter in your inbox, be sure to check your spam folder. And, if you're not yet on our list, you can sign up for our monthly e-newsletter at https://www.amoca.org/newsletter/

03/01/2023

Applications are open for the 2023 High School Ceramics Exhibition! This showcase of talent will continue as a virtual juried exhibition this year. It's free to apply, and applications are open to all students currently enrolled in high school in the United States. Deadline to submit is 3/12/23!

Visit https://www.amoca.org/education/annual-high-school-exhibition/ for all the details.



Pictured: Wilfredo Argueta, Helmeted Warrior. Best of Show, 2022 High School Exhibition.

02/25/2023

Be a part of the virtual discussion, Thursday, March 9th from 11 AM to 12 PM. We will explore the influence of feminism on contemporary ceramics. We will quickly touch upon the Western history that has led to where we are today in the arts and take time to explore the ways in which women’s contributions have often been overlooked as well as the impact of feminist perspectives in contemporary ceramics. There will be an opportunity for Q & A after the discussion.

🔥Register using the link in our profile or follow https://www.amoca.org/upcomingevents/feministexplorations/

02/24/2023

Join us for a reception to celebrate the opening of the exhibition Nick Vest: Works Made in Residence on Saturday, March 18 at AMOCA. The artist will be present for the reception, and light refreshments will be served.

This event is free and open to the public with advance registration. To learn more and reserve your ticket, visit https://www.amoca.org/events/nick-vest-made-in-residence/

Nick Vest is a practicing artist based in Jingdezhen, and co-proprietor of MenLo Gallery and Studio. Born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, he received his MFA from Kansas State University and his BFA at Alfred University. Vest has been a resident artist at Shangyu Celadon Modern International Ceramic Art Center, The Gaya Ceramic Art Center, and The Qionglai Ceramic Center, among others. Vest is in residence at AMOCA from September 2022 through March 2023.

Pictured: Nick Vest, Work in progress, 2023. Wood, cardboard, tile, cast, bowling pin, ceramic.

02/23/2023

☂️ Brighten up your rainy weekend with a museum membership! 🌦 AMOCA's reciprocal membership program allows you to visit us here in Pomona, explore 30+ institutions in Southern California, and visit hundreds of museums across the country, as many times as you like!

Joining AMOCA at the Individual Plus or Dual Plus level gives you access to reciprocal admission benefits. Learn more about AMOCA Membership levels and benefits by visiting https://www.amoca.org/membership/

Pictured: Visitors explore Gallery B at AMOCA. Left: Jenny Hata Blumenfield, Smoke and Mirrors, 2021; background: Cathy Lu's Peripheral Vision, 2022. On view in Breaking Ground: Women in California Clay through March 12, 2023.

02/21/2023

This week’s is looking at the gorgeous work of Henry Takemoto (1930-2015). "Abstract Charger" was acquired by the museum in 2021 from the esteemed Pfannebecker collection.

Henry Takemoto moved to Southern California in the early 1950s to study under Peter Voulkos at Otis Art Institute. Under Voulkos's direction Takemoto, along with John Mason and Paul Soldner, became part of the California clay revolution. Takemoto’s early ceramic sculptures were often large constructions, influenced by Voulkos's style. He later made large-scale vessel forms that taxed the capacities of the material and form. He used surface decoration to enhance and reinforce the vessel form.

Takemoto was influenced by Picasso’s ceramic designs and covered his pieces with organic patterns and shapes that were painted and/or incised. His work referenced Abstract Expressionist painting and traditional Asian ceramics. At the beginning of the 1970s, he focused on teaching and designing for industrial production. He was on the faculty of San Francisco Art Institute, Montana State University, California State College Scripps College, and Claremont College Graduate School.

Henry Takemoto (American, 1930-2015)
Abstract Charger, 1959
glazed stoneware
Museum purchase with funds provided by David and Julianne Armstrong

02/19/2023

Fired up by ceramics? Take a jaunt to the Wende Museum and check out '(De)constructing Ideology: The Cultural Revolution and Beyond.' It takes ceramics from China’s porcelain capital of Jingdezhen as a starting point to explore the history and artistic production of the Cultural Revolution, investigating the relationship between art and ideology, as well as the agency of the artists working within restrictive frameworks.

More: https://wendemuseum.org/exhibition/deconstructing-ideology-the-cultural-revolution-and-beyond/

Pictured: Jingdezhen Sculpture Factory, Catch Up with the U.S.A. and Surpass the U.K., 20th century, on view at the Wende through March 12.

02/18/2023

Weekend plans? Come visit us Friday-Sunday from 11am- 4pm to get your women working in clay fix in our ground breaking exhibition! The show is up for a little less than a month & you won’t want to miss it. 🔥🏺🫖🗿💎❤️‍🔥

02/16/2023

Have you explored "Breaking Ground: Women in California Clay" yet? This exhibition highlights the significant shifts in California ceramics over several generations of women artists. The story is told in three sections, using the artist’s “breaking ground period” to determine their place in history.

Breaking Ground will be on view for just one more month! Plan your visit and book tickets today at https://www.amoca.org/visit/

Pictured foreground: a recent visitor in front of Lisa Reinertson's "Neptune's Daughter" (2011), on view at AMOCA through March 12, 2023; background: section of Millard Sheets's mural "Panorama of the Pomona Valley, 1956."

02/14/2023

Love is in the air ~ and Clay is in our hands! Thank you all for joining us on Sunday for a wonderful Clay Date - Family Workshop! Our visitors bring us so many smiles and make it all worthwhile - AMOCA loves you!

Never miss a clay event! Visit http://eepurl.com/gBXTHz to sign up for AMOCA's monthly e-newsletter 💕

02/10/2023

Applications open this SUNDAY 2/12 for our Annual High School Ceramics Exhibition! This showcase of talent will continue as a virtual juried exhibition this year and is open for all high school students in the U.S. to apply. Find out more details at https://www.amoca.org/education/annual-high-school-exhibition/

02/09/2023

There's always something new to love at AMOCA! Why not give the gift of membership this year? AMOCA members get complimentary admission to our galleries and exhibitions, invitations to member previews and exclusive events, discounts at the Museum Store, and more!

Visit https://www.amoca.org/membership/ to learn more and gift an AMOCA membership today 💛🧡❤️

Pictured: Elaine Katzer, Giraffe illusions, 1993. Stoneware. 56 x 20 x 14 inches; members tour Breaking Ground: Women in California Clay with AMOCA's Executive Director Beth Ann Gerstein.

02/08/2023

Ready to get your hands dirty and have some fun? We have a few seats left in our Introductory Sessions coming up on Friday, February 17. These one hour, hands-on classes will teach you the basics of throwing on the potter’s wheel. If you successfully create a bowl, staff will glaze and fire it after the class is completed—all included in the price of the class.

Visit https://www.amoca.org/studio-3/classes/ to learn more and reserve your spot.

02/07/2023

This week’s highlights a new work recently donated to AMOCA from the collection of Diane & Igal Silber: Jeri Au's "Orb."

Jeri Au’s mixed media installations combine clay with unexpected (and often organic) materials. For 15 years, Au ran a successful studio pottery in the St. Louis region. Originally from Hawaii, she has exhibited her work across the US, the People’s Republic of China, and Hong Kong. She received her B.A. in English from St. Louis University in 1969. She also studied at St. Louis Community College, University of Hawaii, and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. She is now the head of ceramics at Webster University, St Louis, MO.

Join us on April 1st, at the opening of "From a Gift to a Collection: Igal & Diane Silber," to see more of this impressive collection on display at AMOCA. For details about the upcoming exhibition, featuring selections from the Silbers' collection, follow the Exhibitions link in our bio or visit https://www.amoca.org/upcoming-exhibitions/collectors-silber/

Jeri Au (American, b. 1953)
Orb, 1982
ceramic, fiber
Gift of Igal and Diane Silber

02/03/2023

Wow, is it First Friday already? Today -- Friday, February 3 -- you can visit the museum and choose your own ticket prices! Thanks to generous support from AMOCA’s Board of Directors, Museum admission for First Fridays at AMOCA is pay what you can (while tickets last).

For more details, and to reserve your First Friday tickets, visit https://www.amoca.org/events/first-fridays/

02/02/2023

Sunday, February 5 is just around the corner and you don’t want to miss taking advantage of to over 30 museums in SoCal for this year’s ! From science to film to art history, there is a museum experience for everyone to enjoy!

View the full list of participating museums and plan your visits now: https://socalmuseums.org/annual-free-for-all-23/

AMOCA will be open 11AM-4PM on February 5 for Free for All! day -- be sure to reserve your free AMOCA tickets in advance by visiting https://www.amoca.org/events/freeforall/ - Update: AMOCA's tickets have SOLD OUT!