April@AMOCA
April brings new exhibitions to the American Museum of Ceramic Art! From a Gift to a Collection: Igal & Diane Silber opened on Saturday, April 1; 100 works from this unparalleled collection, representing artists from Europe, the Middle East, the Pacific Rim, and North America, are presented in the Armstrong Gallery. William Catling’s Waiting in silence (through the long years), which also opened April 1, is on view in the Vault Gallery now through August 20. You can explore both of these new exhibitions, and choose your own ticket prices, when you attend First Fridays on Friday, April 7.
Aspiring artists of all ages are invited to join us for Nature Play, a family-friendly clay workshop on Saturday, April 8; if you’re looking for a more sophisticated hands-on clay experience, you can sign up for a 60-minute introductory wheel throwing class on Friday, April 14. For more in-depth instructional options, explore our 6-week classes; spring ceramics session classes begin next week, and some seats are still available. We’re pleased to announce two new weekend Skill Building Workshops, on Soda Firing and Figurative Sculpture, coming your way this summer. Studio classes and workshops regularly sell out, so be sure to reserve your spot soon if you’re interested in attending.
We received over 500 entries for the 2023 High School Exhibition; the application period closed on Sunday, March 12. This annual juried exhibition, which will be held virtually again this year, showcases the remarkable talents of high school students studying the ceramic arts across the United States. Thank you for sending such delightful work our way! Stay tuned, as we’ll announce finalists and share our online exhibition gallery in the coming weeks.
AMOCA is proud to participate in the Getty Marrow Undergraduate Internship Program again this summer. This year, we’re hiring a Curatorial/Interpretation Intern; this is a paid, full-time summer position, and we’re accepting applications through Monday, April 10. Encourage the undergraduate students in your life to apply! Full details about the position and application instructions can be found on our Employment page.
We’ve completed the selection process for 2023-2024 AMOCA Artists in Residence, and incoming residents will be announced shortly. While you’re waiting for news, be sure to tune into the April 25 Virtual Artist Talk with current AiR Kim Tucker and learn about what they’ve been working on during their Spring AMOCA residency. There will be time for Q & A after Tucker’s presentation.
If you’re an AMOCA member, you’re invited to enjoy the museum without the crowds on Wednesdays and Thursdays during Member Bonus Days. Don’t forget that AMOCA members also get great perks, including 10% off in-stock items at the museum store and free registration for Family Day workshops like Nature Play, as space allows. Not yet an AMOCA member or need to renew? You can always visit our membership page to renew or purchase a membership online.
To celebrate From a Gift to a Collection: Igal & Diane Silber, we’re partnering with the Laguna Art Museum (LAM) to offer a reciprocal membership program; the Silbers were long time residents of Laguna Beach and ardent supporters of local and international artists and arts organizations. AMOCA Members receive complimentary admission to LAM in Laguna Beach through September 17, 2023. Currently on view at LAM is Unseen Ties: The Visual Collection of Sherman Library & Gardens, Facing the Giant – Three Decades of Dissent: Shepard Fairey, Southern California Contemporary Art: Gifts from the Stuart Spence and Judith Vida-Spence Collection, and Outlook/Insight: The LCAD Effect. Learn more about LAM and their current exhibitions here; show your AMOCA membership card at the LAM entrance for complimentary admission.
Thank you for being a partner in AMOCA’s mission to champion the ceramic arts! We look forward to welcoming you to the museum Friday through Sunday, from 11 AM to 4 PM. Museum tickets may be purchased at the door or reserved online.
See you soon,
Genevieve Kaplan
Associate Director of Communications & Stewardship
April Programs & Events
First Fridays at AMOCA
Friday, April 7 • 11:00 AM–4:00 PM • In-person
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). Each month, visit the Museum and choose your own ticket prices!
Artist Demonstration • MoonDoBang & Adam Field
Friday, April 7, 2023 • 10:00 AM–2:00 PM • In person • $150
Join long-time friends Moon Byung Sik (MoonDoBang) and Adam Field for this compelling 4-hour demonstration at the AMOCA Ceramics Studio. Moon and Field will demonstrate their methods for throwing a variety of wheel-thrown forms. From traditional techniques, to innovative solutions for timeless problems, participants will develop a new perspective on creating and decorating functional pottery. The event will be spoken in Korean and translated to English by Miki Shim.
Family Day: Nature Play
Saturday, April 8 • 12:00–2:00 PM • In Person • $15
Join AMOCA for Nature Play with Clay! In this family-friendly, nature-inspired workshop, we will roll out slabs of clay and imprint them with real leaves, sticks, flowers, and other textures of the earth. Then, participants will transform their decorated slabs into pencil holders, ornaments, wall pieces, ring dishes, or whatever else they wish.
Introductory Session • Wheel Throwing
Friday, April 14 • 5:00–6:00 PM or 8:00-9:00 PM • In Person • $50
Introductory sessions, offered monthly, are the perfect way to get your hands dirty, relax, and have fun! Learn 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. Note: introductory sessions are for adults (ages 16+ may attend in the company of a paying adult).
Virtual Artist Talk • Kim Tucker
Tuesday, April 25, 2023 • 12:00-1:00 PM • Online
Join us for a virtual talk with Artist in Residence Kim Tucker. Tucker will share about their practice, past work, and future directions. There will be an opportunity for Q & A following the presentation.
Skill Building Workshop: Soda Firing
Saturday & Sunday, June 10, 11, & 17, 2023 • times vary • In person • $300
This 3-day workshop with artist Sam Lopez will introduce students to the soda firing process and will include demonstrations for glazing, loading, firing, and spraying the sodium solution into the kiln.
Skill Building Workshop: Figurative Sculpture
Saturday & Sunday June 24 & 25, 2023 • 10:00 AM–4:00 PM • In person • $250
Join Biliana Popova for a two-day ceramic sculpture workshop that will be full of helpful information on solid sculpting a human figure. The focus will be on interpretation from 2D sketch to 3D format, giving special attention to the anatomy and balance of the sculpture.
In Case You Missed It
Virtual Artist Talk: Christopher Suarez
A recording of the December 2022 virtual talk with Artist in Residence Christopher Suarez. Suarez shares about his practice, past work, and future directions in this talk celebrating his recent AMOCA residency.
Exhibitions on View
Visit Friday–Sunday, 11 AM–4 PM by purchasing tickets online.
From a Gift to a Collection: Igal & Diane Silber
On view April 1-September 17, 2023, From a Gift to a Collection: Igal & Diane Silber celebrates AMOCA’s recent acquisition of more than 300 ceramic pieces collected by Igal and Diane Silber. The exhibition presents a selection of 100 works from this unparalleled collection, representing artists from Europe, the Middle East, the Pacific Rim, and North America.
Waiting in silence (through the long years)
The exhibition Waiting in silence (through the long years) features new work by Southern California artist William Catling. It will be on view in the Vault Gallery April 1–August 20, 2023.
The Artists of Mettlach
This ongoing exhibition presents a selection of works from the Villeroy and Boch Mettlach Collection (donated by Robert D. And Colette D. Wilson). It features original research on notable artists involved in the production of these historic works.
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399 N Garey Ave Pomona, CA 91767
909.865.3146 | info@amoca.org
The museum is open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, 11 AM–4 PM. Plan your visit by clicking here.
For information about Ceramics Studio hours and availability, please click here for the Ceramics Studio.