October @AMOCA
We are easing into fall here at AMOCA, and there’s so much we want to share! From a Gift to a Collection: Igal & Diane Silber closes October 8, while our other exhibitions–A Traveler’s Guide to Mettlach, Cj Jilek: Systematic Erosion, and Making in Between: Queer Clay –will be open all month long. Behind the scenes, we’re putting the final touches on REVEAL: Recent Acquisitions, which will open in the Armstrong Gallery on October 28. Don’t forget, if you’re planning to submit work for consideration for our upcoming juried exhibition, Fahrenheit 2024, the deadline is October 15!
AMOCA continues to welcome walk-in visitors on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 11 AM – 4PM, as well as to offer additional opportunities to explore the exhibitions, get your hands dirty, and gain insight from artists and experts. On Friday, October 6, you’re invited to First Fridays, where you can choose your own ticket prices and enjoy current exhibitions, thanks to generous support from our Board of Directors. Also the first weekend of the month, former AMOCA Artist in Residence Natalia Arbelaez is returning to lead a Modular Making workshop in the Studio; later in October help us welcome Artist in Residence Jolie Ngo at her virtual artist talk on Wednesday, October 18.
Looking to get your hands on some clay and learn new techniques? On Friday, October 13, you can learn to throw on the potter’s wheel when you join an hour-long introductory session in the Studio. For a more intensive clay experience, sign up for one of our 6-week classes in the AMOCA studio. The Fall session begins October 10, and a few seats are still available. Studio classes and workshops fill up quickly, so be sure to sign up soon if you’re interested in participating.
And, we can’t forget Spooky Season! You won’t want to miss Espooky Drag Bingo on October 28, an evening in the Queer Clay gallery filled with music, bingo, art, and spooky surprises! Costumes or goth attire are encouraged. Your ticket includes a tour of Making in Between Queer Clay, a drink ticket, and bingo cards. Our favorite drag king Johnny Gentleman will close out the night with an espooky performance.
AMOCA members can continue to enjoy the museum without the crowds on Wednesdays and Thursdays during Member Bonus Days this month. Members also enjoy discounts at the museum store, invitations to exclusive events, and more! Not yet a member or need to renew? You can call us at 909-865-2146 or visit our membership page to renew or purchase a membership online.
Would you like to get more involved at AMOCA? 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.
Save the date for our next exhibition opening! Saturday, November 4 is the opening reception for our new exhibition REVEAL: Recent Acquisitions. Admission to the event and Museum galleries is complimentary with advance registration; light refreshments will be served.
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
First Fridays at AMOCA
Friday, October 6 • 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 Workshop: Modular Making w/Natalia Arbelaez
October 7 & 8, 2023 • 10:00 AM–4:00 PM • In Person • $350
During this two-day workshop artist Natalia Arbelaez will demonstrate her approach to modular methods of sculpture building while students work on their own projects.
Fall Classes @ the Studio
October-November, 2023 • days and time vary • In Person
Fall six-week classes are open for registration and filling up quickly! We offer both beginner and intermediate wheel throwing classes, as well as hand building classes. Classes begin the week of October 10.
Introductory Clay Class • Wheel Throwing
Friday, October 13 • 5:00–6:00 PM or 7:00–8:00 PM • In Person • $50
Introductory sessions 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. If you’d like to take the piece home with you, you can come back and pick it up.
Fahrenheit 2024 Application Deadline
Sunday, October 15, 2023 • Online
AMOCA is delighted to announce the revival of our juried exhibition, Fahrenheit. Artists 18 years of age and older and residing in the United States are invited to submit. The application deadline for Fahrenheit 2024 is October 15, and the exhibition will be on view at AMOCA from January 20-September 8, 2024.
Virtual Artist Talk
Wednesday, October 18, 2023 • 12:00–1:00 PM (PST) • Online
Join us for a virtual talk with Artist in Residence Jolie Ngo to celebrate the beginning of her residency in the AMOCA Studio. There will be an opportunity for Q & A following the presentation.
Espooky Drag Bingo w/Johnny Gentleman
Saturday, October 28, 2023 • 5:00–7:00 PM • In Person • $20
Join us for a an evening filled with music, bingo, and more spooky surprises, led by our favorite drag king Johnny Gentleman! Costumes or goth attire are encouraged.
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.
Opening Reception: REVEAL
Saturday, November 4, 2023 • 4:00–6:00 PM • In Person
Join us for the opening reception for REVEAL: Recent Acquisitions, showcasing a remarkable variety of ceramics that AMOCA has recently acquired for its permanent collection. Admission to the event and Museum galleries is complimentary with advance registration. Light refreshments will be served.
In Case You Missed It
The Hotter and Gayer Narrative in Ceramics, featuring Matthew Limb
This virtual discussion on The Hotter and Gayer Narrative in Ceramics, with scholar Matthew Limb and co-curators Beth Ann Gerstein and Pam Aliaga was recorded on August 24, 2023. “The Hotter and Gayer Narrative in Ceramics” furthers the dialogue on queer ceramics history and delves deeper into Making in Between: Queer Clay, the second exhibition in AMOCA’s “Making in Between” series. Through this Zoom event, Matthew Limb explores how queer identity plays a role in the clay community.
Exhibitions on View
Visit Friday–Sunday, 11 AM–4 PM.
From a Gift to a Collection: Igal & Diane Silber
On view April 1-October 8, 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.
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.
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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.