March@AMOCA
It’s an exciting month at the American Museum of Ceramic Art! We’re starting March off with First Fridays, our pay-what-you-can admission day. Thanks to generous support from AMOCA’s Board of Directors, you can visit the museum on Friday, March 3 and choose your own ticket prices!
Breaking Ground: Women in California Clay is coming down this month. If you want to see this compelling exhibition in person and learn more about some of the Golden State’s most innovative and impactful 20th and 21st century ceramic artists, be sure to make your plan to visit AMOCA on or before March 12, 2023 when the exhibition closes. You’re also invited to join us virtually for our final Breaking Ground program, an artist roundtable discussion exploring the influence of feminism on contemporary ceramics. This online discussion, hosted by Pam Aliaga, will feature artists included in the third chapter of Breaking Ground. Learn more and register for Feminist Explorations in Contemporary Ceramics here.
The entry period for the 2023 High School Exhibition closes 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. For all the details, and to submit your work, visit the application page.
Nick Vest, an Artist-in-Residence in the Studio since September 2022, is closing out his residency with a pop-up show in Gallery B. Nick Vest: Works Made in Residence will be on view March 17-26, 2023. You’re invited to help celebrate the opening of this exhibition; AMOCA will host a reception with the artist on Saturday, March 18 at 3:00pm. Learn more, and register for the reception here. Later this month, Vest, alongside artist Alex Reed, will lead a 3-day intensive workshop on mold making and model making techniques. Learn more about this offering in the AMOCA Studios and register for the Skill-Building Workshop on Technical Mold Making.
If you’re an AMOCA member, you’re always invited to enjoy the museum without the crowds on Member Bonus Days; the museum continues be open on Wednesdays and Thursdays for members. Don’t forget that AMOCA members also get early access to exhibitions! From a Gift to a Collection: Igal & Diane Silber will open to the public on Saturday, April 1, and members get early access on Friday, March 31. Join us for Member Preview Day on March 31 and be among the first to experience this unparalleled collection. Not yet an AMOCA member or need to renew? You can always visit our membership page to renew or purchase a membership online.
The Ceramics Studio is pleased to announce its Spring Session; six-week courses in wheel throwing, hand building, and surface decoration start April 10 and are open for registration. If you’re not ready to commit to a longer class but want to get your hands dirty, you can join a one-hour Introductory Session on Friday, March 10. We have just a few seats left! Later this spring, you won’t want to miss the Artist Demonstration with MoonDoBang & Adam Field on Friday, April 7. Studio classes, workshops, and demonstrations regularly sell out, so be sure to reserve your spot soon if you’re interested in attending.
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.
Hope to see you soon,
Genevieve Kaplan
Associate Director of Communications & Stewardship
March Programs & Events
First Fridays at AMOCA
Friday, March 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!
Artist Roundtable: Feminist Explorations in Contemporary Ceramics
Thursday, March 9 • 11:00 AM–12:00 PM (PST) • Online
Join us for a discussion featuring artists from the third chapter of AMOCA’s current exhibition Breaking Ground: Women in California Clay. Exhibition Manager Pam Aliaga and participating artists will explore the influence of feminism on contemporary ceramics.
Introductory Session • Wheel Throwing
Friday, March 10• 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).
2023 High School Ceramics Exhibition
Application Deadline: March 12, 2023 • Online
Since 2014, AMOCA has hosted an annual juried exhibition showcasing the remarkable talents of high school students studying the ceramic arts. Since 2020, the exhibition has been held virtually and will continue online this coming year. All high school students in the U.S. are eligible to apply.
Public Reception • Nick Vest: Works Made in Residence
Saturday, March 18 • 3:00–6:00 PM • In person
Join us for a reception to celebrate the opening of the exhibition Nick Vest: Works Made in Residence, on view in Gallery B at AMOCA. The artist will be present for the reception, and beverages will be served. This event is free with advance registration.
Skill Building Workshop: Technical Moldmaking
Saturday & Sunday, March 25 & 26 and April 1, 2023 • 10:00 AM–4:00 PM • In person • $475
Join artists Alex Reed and Nick Vest for the 3-day intensive workshop “Technical Moldmaking: The Pipe as Potter’s Form” where participants will learn moldmaking techniques and model making.
Member Preview Day • From a Gift to a Collection: Igal & Diane Silber
Friday, March 31 • 2:00–4:00 PM • In person
From a Gift to a Collection: Igal & Diane Silber is on view at AMOCA from April 1–September 17, 2023, and members get early access! Be among the first to see From a Gift to a Collection at Member Preview Day on Friday, March 31. This preview is complimentary for AMOCA Members.
Opening Reception • From a Gift to a Collection: Igal & Diane Silber
Saturday, April 1 • 4:00–6:00 PM • In person
Join us for an opening reception for From a Gift to a Collection: Igal & Diane Silber. Opening remarks will occur at 4:30 PM, and light refreshments will be served. Admission to the event and Museum galleries is complimentary with advance registration.
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.
In Case You Missed It
Curator Talk: Breaking Ground: Women in California Clay
A recording of the October 2022 talk in the exhibition galleries with Breaking Ground co-curators Jo Lauria, Edith Garcia, and Beth Ann Gerstein.
Exhibitions on View
Visit Friday–Sunday, 11 AM–4 PM by purchasing tickets online.
Breaking Ground: Women in California Clay
On view September 10, 2022–March 12, 2023, 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.
Breaking Ground: Women in California Clay is co-curated by Beth Ann Gerstein (Executive Director), Jo Lauria (Adjunct Curator), and Edith Garcia (Professor, California College of the Arts and University of California, Berkeley).
Nick Vest: Works Made in Residence
Artist in Residence Nick Vest’s pop-up exhibition features new work created during his residency in the AMOCA studios. Works Made in Residence will be on view in Gallery B March 17–26, 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.