2022 Workshops and classes

Sessions & Classes

Introductory Sessions

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. If you’d like to take the piece home with you, you can come back and pick it up.

Introductory sessions last 60 minutes and cost $75. This fee includes everything needed for the class (including clay, glaze, and firing services). Introductory sessions are for adults ages 18 and over (students 16+ may attend when accompanied by a paying adult).

Along with your class comes complimentary admission to the Museum’s galleries – don’t miss the chance to explore one of the largest collections of ceramic art in the United States!

Friday, April 12, 2024 • 5:00-6:00 PM

Friday, April 12, 2024 • 7:00-8:00 PM

Six-week Classes

If you’re looking to develop your skills further, consider taking a six-week course. Courses encourage development of ceramic skills and are limited to 10 participants. Courses meet once a week with an instructor for 2.5 hours (15 hours of total instructor time). Access to open studio hours is included for the duration of the class and one week following.

Clay classes are for adults ages 18 and over (students 16+ may attend when accompanied by a paying adult).

Advanced Hand Building with Paige O’Toole . $350
Mondays, January 15 – February 19, 2024 . 6:00-8:30 PM . In person

This advanced hand-building class is designed for students who are comfortable hand building and want to explore more complicated building methods, sculpturally or functionally. Students are encouraged to bring their own project ideas, as the class will focus on demonstrations and advising to make those ideas in clay!

Beginning Wheel Throwing with Isabella Hackerman . $350
Tuesdays, January 16 – February 20, 2024 . 6:30-9:00 PM . In Person

This course is designed to teach the fundamentals of working with clay on the potter’s wheel–no prior experience is necessary. Students will be introduced to basic throwing shapes, as well as the follow-up steps of trimming, handle making, and glazing.

Emphasis on Glazing with Kat Hopkins . $350
Wednesdays, January 17 – February 21, 2024 . 10:30 AM-1 PM . In person

The emphasis in this class will be on glazing techniques. We will explore different shino glazes, as well as glazing pieces with textures and doing sgraffito. Students will work independently to create functional ceramic pieces which will then be used for learning glazing. Some instruction on building your pieces will be provided; however, class time will be mainly spent on surface and glazing instruction.

Skill level: Some experience in ceramics is preferred; however, beginners are welcome! Activity level: this class will require students to be able to lift 25 pound bags of clay and will require frequent walking to and from the glaze area.

Soda Firing with Nathan Stanfield . $400
Wednesdays, January 17 – February 21, 2024 . 6:00-8:30 PM . In-person

This class will cover every step of soda firing and how each step impacts the final look of the work. It is recommended that you are already comfortable working on the potter’s wheel and can make basic pottery forms. During this 6-week course, participants to learn how to best utilize opportunities to fire in atmospheric kiln and design work that complements this style of firing.

Beginning Hand Building (Bilingual English/Spanish) with Aida Lugo . $350
Thursdays, January 18 – February 22, 2024 . 6-8:30 PM . In person

This beginning hand building course is designed to teach the fundamentals of working with clay–no prior experience is necessary. Students will be introduced to basic types of hand building and construction techniques, as well as the basics of glazing.

This class may be conducted in English and Spanish – both English and Spanish speakers are welcome. Esta clase puede llevarse a cabo en ingles y espanol; tanto los hablantes de ingles como los de espanol son bienvenidos.

Beginning Wheel Throwing with Mark Muscarello . $350
Saturdays, January 20 – February 24, 2024 . 10:00 AM-12:30 PM . In Person

This course is designed to teach the fundamentals of working with clay on the potter’s wheel–no prior experience is necessary. Students will be introduced to basic throwing shapes, as well as the follow-up steps of trimming, handle making, and glazing.

Intermediate Wheel Throwing with Mark Muscarello . $350
Saturdays, January 20 – February 24, 2024 . 2:00-4:30 PM . In Person

This intermediate wheel throwing course is designed for students who are comfortable throwing, trimming and glazing work independently. This class focuses on developing consistency in throwing and also using the wheel to create larger and more complex bodies of work.

Beginning Wheel Throwing with Yunting Li . $350
Sundays, January 21 – February 25, 2024 . 10:00 AM-12:30 PM . In Person

This course is designed to teach the fundamentals of working with clay on the potter’s wheel–no prior experience is necessary. Students will be introduced to basic throwing shapes, as well as the follow-up steps of trimming, handle making, and glazing.

Beginning Wheel Throwing (Bilingual English/Spanish) with Pam Aliaga . $350
Sundays, January 21 – February 25, 2024 . 2:00-4:30 PM . In-person

This course is designed to teach the fundamentals of working with clay on the potter’s wheel–no prior experience is necessary. Students will be introduced to basic throwing shapes, as well as the follow-up steps of trimming, handle making, and glazing.

This class may be conducted in English and Spanish – both English and Spanish speakers are welcome. Esta clase puede llevarse a cabo en ingles y espanol; tanto los hablantes de ingles como los de espanol son bienvenidos.

Beginning Wheel Throwing with Paige O’Toole . $350
Mondays, April 8 – May 13, 2024 . 6:00-8:30 PM . In-person

This course is designed to teach the fundamentals of working with clay on the potter’s wheel–no prior experience is necessary. Students will be introduced to basic throwing shapes, as well as the follow-up steps of trimming, handle making, and glazing.

Beginning Wheel Throwing with Isabella Hackerman . $350
Tuesdays, April 9 – May 14, 2024 . 6:30-9:00 PM . In-person

This course is designed to teach the fundamentals of working with clay on the potter’s wheel–no prior experience is necessary. Students will be introduced to basic throwing shapes, as well as the follow-up steps of trimming, handle making, and glazing.

Beginning Wheel Throwing (Bilingual English/Spanish) with Pam Aliaga . $350
Wednesdays, April 10 – May 15, 2024 . 6:00-8:30 PM . In-person

This course is designed to teach the fundamentals of working with clay on the potter’s wheel–no prior experience is necessary. Students will be introduced to basic throwing shapes, as well as the follow-up steps of trimming, handle making, and glazing.

This class may be conducted in English and Spanish – both English and Spanish speakers are welcome. Esta clase puede llevarse a cabo en ingles y espanol; tanto los hablantes de ingles como los de espanol son bienvenidos.

Beginning Hand Building (Bilingual English/Spanish) with Aida Lugo . $350
Thursdays, April 11 – May 16, 2024 . 6:00-8:30 PM . In-person

This beginning hand building course is designed to teach the fundamentals of working with clay–no prior experience is necessary. Students will be introduced to basic types of hand building and construction techniques, as well as the basics of glazing.

This class may be conducted in English and Spanish – both English and Spanish speakers are welcome. Esta clase puede llevarse a cabo en ingles y espanol; tanto los hablantes de ingles como los de espanol son bienvenidos.

Beginning Wheel Throwing with Mark Muscarello . $350
Saturdays, April 13 – May 18, 2024 . 10:00 AM -12:30 PM . In-person

This course is designed to teach the fundamentals of working with clay on the potter’s wheel–no prior experience is necessary. Students will be introduced to basic throwing shapes, as well as the follow-up steps of trimming, handle making, and glazing.

Intermediate Wheel Throwing with Mark Muscarello . $350
Saturdays, April 13 – May 18, 2024 . 2:00 – 4:30 PM . In-person

This intermediate wheel throwing course is designed for students who are comfortable throwing, trimming and glazing work independently. This class focuses on developing consistency in throwing and also using the wheel to create larger and more complex bodies of work.

Beginning Wheel Throwing (Bilingual English/Spanish) with Pam Aliaga . $350
Sundays, April 14 – May 19, 2024 . 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM . In-person

This course is designed to teach the fundamentals of working with clay on the potter’s wheel–no prior experience is necessary. Students will be introduced to basic throwing shapes, as well as the follow-up steps of trimming, handle making, and glazing.

This class may be conducted in English and Spanish – both English and Spanish speakers are welcome. Esta clase puede llevarse a cabo en ingles y espanol; tanto los hablantes de ingles como los de espanol son bienvenidos.

Beginning Wheel Throwing with Yunting Li . $350
Sundays, April 14 – May 19, 2024 . 2:00 – 4:30 PM . In-person

This course is designed to teach the fundamentals of working with clay on the potter’s wheel–no prior experience is necessary. Students will be introduced to basic throwing shapes, as well as the follow-up steps of trimming, handle making, and glazing.

To Be Announced

Beginning Wheel Throwing with Isabella Hackerman . $350
Tuesdays, October 10-November 14, 2023 . 6:30-9:00 PM . In Person

This course is designed to teach the fundamentals of working with clay on the potter’s wheel–no prior experience is necessary. Students will be introduced to basic throwing shapes, as well as the follow-up steps of trimming, handle making, and glazing.

Beginning Hand Building with Kat Hopkins . $350
Wednesdays, October 11-November 15, 2023 . 10:30 AM-1 PM . In-person

This beginning hand building course is designed to teach the fundamentals of working with clay–no prior experience is necessary. Students will be introduced to basic types of hand building and construction techniques, as well as the basics of glazing.

Intermediate Wheel Throwing with Nathan Stanfield . $350
Wednesdays, October 11-November 15, 2023 . 6-8:30 PM . In Person

This intermediate wheel throwing course is designed for students who are comfortable throwing, trimming and glazing work independently. This class focuses on developing consistency in throwing and also using the wheel to create larger and more complex bodies of work.

Beginning Hand Building (Bilingual English/Spanish) with Aida Lugo . $350
Thursdays, October 12-November 16, 2023 . 6-8:30 PM . In-person

This beginning hand building course is designed to teach the fundamentals of working with clay–no prior experience is necessary. Students will be introduced to basic types of hand building and construction techniques, as well as the basics of glazing.

This class may be conducted in English and Spanish – both English and Spanish speakers are welcome. Esta clase puede llevarse a cabo en ingles y espanol; tanto los hablantes de ingles como los de espanol son bienvenidos.

Beginning Wheel Throwing with Yunting Li . $350
Saturdays, October 14-November 18, 2023 . 10 AM-12:30 PM . In-person

This course is designed to teach the fundamentals of working with clay on the potter’s wheel–no prior experience is necessary. Students will be introduced to basic throwing shapes, as well as the follow-up steps of trimming, handle making, and glazing.

Beginning Wheel Throwing with Yunting Li . $350
Saturdays, October 14-November 18, 2023 . 2-4:30 PM . In-person

This course is designed to teach the fundamentals of working with clay on the potter’s wheel–no prior experience is necessary. Students will be introduced to basic throwing shapes, as well as the follow-up steps of trimming, handle making, and glazing.

Beginning Wheel Throwing (Bilingual English/Spanish) with Pam Aliaga . $350
Sundays, October 15-November 19, 2023 . 2-4:30 PM . In-person

This course is designed to teach the fundamentals of working with clay on the potter’s wheel–no prior experience is necessary. Students will be introduced to basic throwing shapes, as well as the follow-up steps of trimming, handle making, and glazing.

This class may be conducted in English and Spanish – both English and Spanish speakers are welcome. Esta clase puede llevarse a cabo en ingles y espanol; tanto los hablantes de ingles como los de espanol son bienvenidos.

If you have a suggestion for a class, or are interested in teaching, send us an email at studio@amoca.org – we’d love to hear from you!

Things to Know / Policies

  • Refunds are not allowed after the class begins. Refunds requested during the week prior to the start of the class will be honored at 50%. If you would like to request a refund, email studio@amoca.org.
  • Introductory sessions and six-week studio classes are for adults ages 18 and over (students 16+ may attend when accompanied by a paying adult).
  • AMOCA follows current Los Angeles County COVID guidelines. We encourage you to keep up to date on vaccines, wear a mask if you’d like to, and stay healthy!

Studio Etiquette

Open studio:

Students are encouraged to come in on their own time to work on their projects during Open Studio hours (posted online and in the classroom). Entry to studio outside of Open Studio hours will be disabled via entry system.

Studio Artists:

Our Studio Artists and Artists in Residence occupy private spaces. Please be respectful of their personal space and please do not interrupt them while they are working.

Cleaning:

Please be sure to clean up the area you are working in, including:

  • Handbuilding tables – wipe down after use
  • Slab roller – always use canvas
  • Glaze area – wipe down any spills, countertops, and buckets
  • Studio tools – clean before putting back in drawer
Noise:

All cell phone conversations are to be taken outside. When listening to music or podcasts please only use headphones! It is important to not assume others want to listen to your tunes.

Storage:

There is shelving provided for each class in the classroom. This can be used for the duration of the class; however, once class is over these shelves must be cleared. Anything left behind after the two week grace period concludes will be assumed abandoned and then discarded.

Clay:

All clay must be purchased through our studio; no outside clay will be fired. If there is a cone 10 clay body you like from Laguna Clay that we don’t have in stock please let us know and we can order some for you.

Classroom Happenings and Open Studio Calendar

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301 N Garey Ave Pomona, CA 91767
909.865.3146 | studio@amoca.org
The Studio is open by appointment only.

For information about museum exhibition hours and availability, please click the link below.

Museum