July @AMOCA
Summer is heating up, but we’re keeping things cool at the American Museum of Ceramic Art. Friday, July 7 is our monthly First Friday, when you can choose your own ticket prices and enjoy current exhibitions, thanks to generous support from our Board of Directors. Exhibitions on view this month include Making in Between: Queer Clay, From a Gift to a Collection: Igal & Diane Silber, and William Catling’s vault installation Waiting in silence (through the long years).
On Saturday, July 8, come on out to AMOCA for an artist talk and behind-the-scenes studio visit with Artist-in-Residence Natalia Arbelaez. Arbelaez will share about her ceramic practice, past work, and future directions. After the talk in AMOCA’s galleries, follow Arbelaez on a short tour of her space in the AMOCA Studio. The talk is free with museum admission; reservations are preferred, and seating is limited.
Later in July, there’s more to explore at AMOCA. On Saturday, July 15, join us in the gallery for a panel discussion with some of the talented artists in our current exhibition Making in Between: Queer Clay. During the panel conversation with the exhibition curators, Queer Clay artists Nicki Green and Tamara Santibañez will dive into the cultural and social contexts that have shaped their artistic process. You’re also invited to learn more about Queer Clay‘s captivating narrative and engage in discussion with other visitors on Saturday, July 23, when you’ll get the opportunity to make some new friends and try a new brew at the Queer Clay Meet Cute.
Over in the studio, we’re hosting one-hour introductory sessions on July 14 where you can learn how to throw on the potter’s wheel. AMOCA’s introductory sessions, offered monthly, are the perfect way to get your hands dirty, relax, and have fun! Summer six-week classes, offering a more in-depth study of wheel-throwing, hand building, or surface design, begin July 10. Some seats are still available, but be sure to sign up soon if you’re interested in getting your hands on some clay this summer. Our studio classes and workshops frequently sell out.
AMOCA members can continue to enjoy the museum without the crowds on Wednesdays and Thursdays all summer long during Member Bonus Days. Members also enjoy discounts at the museum store, invitations to exclusive events, and more! And, through September 17, all AMOCA members also receive complimentary admission to Laguna Art Museum (LAM) in Laguna Beach; just show your AMOCA membership card at the LAM front desk to gain free admission. Not yet an AMOCA 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.
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 or reserved in advance online.
See you soon,
Genevieve Kaplan
Associate Director of Communications & Stewardship
Upcoming Programs & Events
First Fridays at AMOCA
Friday, July 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!
Saturday, July 8, 2023 • 12:00–1:00 PM • In Person
Artist Talk + Studio Visit
Join us for a talk with Artist in Residence Natalia Arbelaez, where you’ll learn about the artist’s practice and future directions. After the talk in AMOCA’s galleries, follow Arbelaez on a short tour of her space in the AMOCA Ceramic Studio.
Summer Session: 6-week ceramic classes
July–August, 2023 • Days & times vary • In Person
If you’re looking to develop your ceramic skills, consider taking a six-week course. Summer session classes begin July 10. Courses in the AMOCA Studios are limited to 10 participants and meet once a week with an instructor for 2.5 hours (15 hours of total instructor time). Clay classes are for adults ages 18 and over (students 16+ may attend when accompanied by a paying adult).
Introductory Clay Class • Wheel Throwing
Friday, July 14• 5:00–6:00 PM or 8:00–9:00 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.
Queer Clay: Artists in Conversation
Saturday, July 15, 2023 • 12:00–1:00 PM • In Person
Join us for a panel discussion with some of the talented artists behind our current exhibition Making in Between: Queer Clay. This event is free with museum admission.
Queer Clay • Meet Cute
Saturday, July 22• 12:00–1:30 PM • In Person • $15
Join us for a tour and discussion of our current exhibition Making in Between: Queer Clay. After the tour, we’ll head to Homage Brewing! Your Meet Cute ticket includes the Queer Clay tour at AMOCA and one drink at Homage (beer or coffee).
In Case You Missed It
Artist Roundtable: Feminist Explorations in Contemporary Ceramics
This March 9, 2023 virtual discussion featured artists from the third chapter of AMOCA’s exhibition Breaking Ground: Women in California Clay. Tune in to hear Exhibitions Manager Pam Aliaga and Breaking Ground artists Jenny Hata Blumenfield and Julia Haft-Candell explore the influence of feminism on contemporary ceramics.
Exhibitions on View
Visit Friday–Sunday, 11 AM–4 PM by purchasing tickets online or at the door.
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.
From a Gift to a Collection: Igal & Diane Silber
On view April 1-October 1, 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.
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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.