December @AMOCA
Can you believe it’s December already? Already this month AMOCA opened its doors for a three-day Open House & Holiday Market, where visitors explored current exhibitions, enjoyed docent-led tours and wheel-throwing demonstrations, shopped one-of-a-kind finds, and more! Don’t worry: there’s still plenty of time to visit and shop! The museum is open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 11 AM – 4 PM through the rest of the month (with the exception of Sundays December 24 and 31).
Be sure to make time to explore Cj Jilek: Systematic Erosion in the Igal & Diane Silber Vault Gallery; it closes on December 17. And, you won’t want to miss Making in Between: Queer Clay, on view in Gallery B through December 30!
Members and their guests are invited to go behind the scenes and learn about the history and significance of pieces in Making in Between: Queer Clay by joining the December 13 Members Tour with an exhibition curator. Not yet a member or need to renew? Visit our Membership page for details.
Also this month, you can get your hands dirty in the studio when you sign up for Johnny Arvisu’s three-day Skill Building Workshop in early December, or join a one-hour introductory session on Friday, December 15. Six week classes start mid-January! Classes will be open for registration soon, and you can preview the class list on our Classes page.
For distinctive holiday gifts, check out AMOCA’s museum store! You can shop catalogs, books, art, jewelry, home goods, and other curated ceramic pieces in person or online. You can also make a year-end gift to AMOCA and help support our extraordinary level of exhibitions, conservation, research, and educational and studio programs.
Want to contribute your time to AMOCA? The Docent Program is accepting new volunteers. We’ll train you to give educational exhibition tours to school children, clubs, or special interest groups. Docents make a world of a difference in meeting our mission, and get a sense of satisfaction from their important contributions.
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 when you arrive.
See you soon,
Genevieve Kaplan
Associate Director of Communications & Stewardship
Upcoming Programs & Events
Skill Building Workshop: Soda Firing
December 9, 10, & 11, 2023 • times vary • In Person • $350
During this three-day workshop with Johnny Arvizu, participants will learn all aspects of the process of soda firing and have the opportunity to fire their own work in AMOCA’s outdoor kiln.
Queer Clay: Members Tour
Wednesday, December 13, 2023 • 12:00–1:00 PM • In Person
Join us for a tour of AMOCA’s exhibition Making in Between: Queer Clay led by the exhibition curator, exclusively for members and their guests.
Introductory Clay Class
Friday, December 15, 2023 • 5:00–6:00 PM or 7:00–8:00 PM • In person • $50
The perfect way to get your hands dirty, relax, and have fun! In this one-hour introductory class, you’ll learn the basics of throwing on the potter’s wheel.
Shop AMOCA’s Museum Store
In Person & Online
Looking for a great gift? Shop books, catalogs art, jewelry, home goods, and other curated ceramics at AMOCA! Stop by in person Fri/Sat/Sun 11 AM – 4 PM or by appointment, or shop online 24/7.
Make a Year-End Gift
Support AMOCA’s extraordinary level of exhibitions, conservation, research, and educational and studio programs. Your generosity enables thousands of visitors to experience the power of ceramic art.
First Fridays at AMOCA
Friday, November 3 • 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!
Winter Classes at The Studio
January–February, 2024 • days and times vary • In Person
Our winter six-week session begins mid- January! In addition to multi-level classes in wheel throwing and hand building, this session brings brand-new courses in Soda Firing and Glazing.
Docent Training Program
Now accepting volunteer applications!
Our Docent Program is accepting new volunteers. We’ll train you to give educational exhibition tours to school children, clubs, or special interest groups. Docents make a world of a difference in meeting our mission, and get a sense of satisfaction from their important contributions.
In Case You Missed It
Artist Talk with Jolie Ngo
In this presentation by AMOCA Artist in Residence Jolie Ngo, the artist shares about her practice, past work, and future directions. This virtual talk, which was presented and recorded on October 18, 2023, marks the beginning of Ngo’s residency in the AMOCA Studio.
Exhibitions on View
Visit Friday–Sunday, 11 AM–4 PM.
REVEAL: Recent Acquisitions 2020-2023
On view in the Armstrong Gallery through July 21, 2024, REVEAL: Recent Acquisitions 2020-2023 showcases a remarkable variety of ceramics that AMOCA has recently acquired for its permanent collection from 45 donors. AMOCA’s permanent collection encompasses 13,000+ ceramic objects that date from pre-Columbian to contemporary times.
Making in Between: Queer Clay
On view May 6-December 30, 2023, Making in Between: Queer Clay shifts the lens of the Making in Between series from national heritage to explore broader influences on identity, centering queerness as an unapologetic presence. Queer Clay features works by historical artists, whose identities have remained largely unseen until recently, alongside contemporary makers.
Cj Jilek: Systematic Erosion
Systematic Erosion is an installation of ceramic and mixed media sculpture addressing social justice for women. Cj Jilek’s exhibition explores the erosion of women’s rights locally, nationally, and internationally. While highlighting women’s rights, the exhibition also has undertones of environmentalism. Systematic Erosion will be on view in the Igal & Diane Silber Vault Gallery September 9–December 17, 2023.
A Traveler’s Guide to Mettlach
A Traveler’s Guide to Mettlach: Villeroy and Boch showcases everyday life in the 1800s Mettlach, Germany. A Traveler’s Guide to Mettlach, on view in the Robert and Colette Wilson Gallery through June 2025, presents concepts of life, laughter, relationships, and the day-to-day existence of the German people.
Bring Some Culture to Your Inbox
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.