Museum Store Sunday
2025-11-30 11:00 - 16:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | American Museum of Ceramic Art, 399 N. Garey Ave, Pomona, 91767
Shop AMOCA on November 30 and “Shop With Purpose” as part of Museum Store Sunday. Purchases made at our museum store on Museum Store Sunday–or any day–directly support individual artists as well as AMOCA’s mission: to champion the art, history, creation, and technology of ceramics.

AMOCA: Treasure Sale Weekend
2025-12-05 11:00 - 2025-12-07 16:00 | American Museum of Ceramic Art, 399 N. Garey Ave, Pomona, 91767
Friday, Saturday, & Sunday, December 5, 6, & 7, 2025 • 11:00 AM –4:00 PM • In Person • free w/advance registration
Explore AMOCA’s current exhibitions, enjoy docent-led tours, and shop one-of-a-kind finds during our 2025 Treasure Sale Weekend. Admission to the museum during Treasure Sale Weekend is complimentary with advance registration.

For Race and Country: Buffalo Soldiers in California
2025-12-05 12:00 - 2026-03-01 17:00 | Ontario Museum of History & Art, 225 Euclid Ave, Ontario, CA, 91762, United States
December 4, 2025 – March 1, 2026
Thursday–Friday: 12:00 PM–4:00 PM
Saturday–Sunday: 11:00 AM–5:00 PM
Holiday Closures:
December, 25, 2025
January 1, 2025
For Race and Country: Buffalo Soldiers in California is based on the California African American Museum exhibition of the same name, curated by Susan D. Anderson. The exhibition’s title is derived from the inscription on a 1919 photographic portrait of Colonel Young, “Yours for Race and Country.” This double loyalty, to his people and his nation, exemplifies the conflicts faced by African American soldiers during a time of government-imposed racial segregation. The exhibition also reveals the role played by Black soldiers in the Army’s history of violence against Native American people, and it presents debates in the Black community over participation in imperialist wars. Today, Buffalo Soldiers are mainly known through legend and popular culture. For Race and Country goes beyond simplistic portrayals, providing a vehicle for the voices of the soldiers themselves.
For Race and Country: Buffalo Soldiers in California is based on the California African American Museum exhibition of the same name, curated by Susan D. Anderson, and tours through Exhibit Envoy.
Image credit: Buffalo Soldiers patrolling Yosemite National Park, 1899.
U.S. National Service, YOSE 77999.

Teen Wheel Lab
2025-12-05 16:30 - 18:00 | American Museum of Ceramic Art, 399 N. Garey Ave, Pomona, 91767
Join one of AMOCA’s teaching artists for a 1.5-hour wheel throwing lab, where youth ages 12-16 are invited to try their hand at the wheel and learn the steps to make their own pottery. Advance registration required.

Darkness and Light
2025-12-05 19:00 - 21:30 | Chaffey College Theatre, 5885 Haven Ave, Rancho Cucamonga, CA, 91737-3002, United States
The Chaffey College Choirs explore the contrast and confluence of darkness and shine so prominent in the month of December. Come hear the burnish and shine of Chaffey’s finest choral singers.

A Christmas Carol: Radio Hour
2025-12-05 19:30 - 20:45 | The Annex Blackbox, 7888 Cherry Avenue Unit E, Fontana, California, 92336, United States
Get ready to be transported to a world of magic and transformation! Join us for Charles Dickens’ timeless classic, “A Christmas Carol,” performed live at the Valverde Annex on December 5th and 6th! Experience the story like never before, as it unfolds on stage in the captivating style of a live radio broadcast. Our dynamic actors will bring all the beloved characters to life, ensuring an unforgettable evening for all ages. Don’t miss out on this enchanting event—mark your calendars and be part of the holiday spirit!

Holiday Band Concert
2025-12-06 14:00 - 16:30 | Chaffey College Theatre, 5885 Haven Ave, Rancho Cucamonga, CA, 91737-3002, United States
Celebrate the holiday season with a stunning performance by the Chaffey Community Concert Band & swinging music by the Chaffey College Jazz Ensemble.

Family Workshop: Holiday Ornaments
2025-12-07 12:00 - 14:00 | American Museum of Ceramic Art, 399 N. Garey Ave, Pomona, 91767
Fun for the whole family! AMOCA invites you to join us for a one-day holiday ornament decorating workshop where you’ll craft rustic holiday ornaments. Advance registration is required.

Getty Marrow Curatorial Tour: Mata Ortiz
2025-12-12 11:00 - 12:00 | American Museum of Ceramic Art, 399 N. Garey Ave, Pomona, 91767
Join us for a tour of AMOCA’s exhibition In Their Hands: The Evolution of Mata Ortiz Pottery with 2025 Getty Marrow Curatorial Intern Nico Kossakowaski. This tour is free with museum admission.

Introductory Clay Class
2025-12-12 17:30 - 18:30 | American Museum of Ceramic Art, 399 N. Garey Ave, Pomona, 91767
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. Advance registration required.

Studio Saturdays: That’s A Wrap
2025-12-13 11:00 - 14:00 | Ontario Museum of History & Art, 225 Euclid Ave, Ontario, CA, 91762, United States
Add a creative, personal touch to your holiday gifts and design your own custom wrapping paper and gift bags! This festive, all-ages workshop invites participants to decorate using pre-made stamps featuring local icons like the Frankish Fountain, Armstrong roses, and Nugent’s Park horseshoes. Attendees ages 15 and up will have an opportunity to carve their own linocut stamps for a truly one-of-a-kind print.
All materials are provided for this drop-in workshop.

The Nutcracker - Inland Pacific Ballet
2025-12-13 12:00 - 14:00 | Bridges Auditorium, Pomona College, 450 N. College Way, Claremont, 91711
A Holiday Tradition Your Family Will Treasure!

Experience the magic of the holidays with family and friends at southern California’s most spectacular production of The Nutcracker from critically acclaimed Inland Pacific Ballet. This annual production tells the story of a young girl named Clara who receives a magical nutcracker doll on Christmas Eve and sets out on a wondrous journey to the Land of the Snow and the Kingdom of Sweets.

The Nutcracker comes to life in this magnificent ballet with beautiful sets, dazzling costumes, Tchaikovsky’s classic score, and more than 80 dancers on stage. Toy soldiers, life-sized dancing dolls, falling snow, a fantastic dream with battling mice, dancing snowflakes, waltzing flowers, gingerbread characters, and the delightful Sugar Plum Fairy stir the imagination. This is family entertainment at its best!

Additional performances Dec 19-21 at Fox Performing Arts Center, Riverside

It's a Wonderful Life
2025-12-18 19:30 - 21:30 | Ophelias Jump Productions, 2009 Porterfield Way unit i, Upland, 91786
Only 4 Performances!
A fun adaptation of the holiday classic featuring live Foley sound, music, and audience participation, and cameo performances by friendly, well-known faces.
Holiday sing-along 20 minutes before each performance.
OJP Yule Lounge opens one hour before each performance for holiday cocktails, hot cocoa, Santa’s cookies, and other delicious snacks.
December 18-21 at OJP Theater. Tickets can be found at: https://app.arts-people.com/?show=304148

DIY: Decoupage Serving Dish
2025-12-19 15:00 - 16:30 | Pomona Valley Pride, 235 West Mission Blvd., Pomona, California, 91766, United States
Add a touch of charm to your home with this hands-on D.I.Y. craft! In this creative workshop, you’ll design your very own serving dish using the art of decoupage—layering beautiful paper designs, patterns, or images onto a surface for a polished, decorative finish. Whether you prefer elegant florals, vintage vibes, or modern flair, this is your chance to craft a piece that’s uniquely yours.
All materials provided. No experience necessary.

The Nutcracker - Inland Pacific Ballet
2025-12-19 19:30 - 21:30 | Fox Performing Arts Center, 3801 Mission Inn ave., Riverside, California, 92501, United States
A Holiday Tradition Your Family Will Treasure!

Experience the magic of the holidays with family and friends at southern California’s most spectacular production of The Nutcracker from critically acclaimed Inland Pacific Ballet. This annual production tells the story of a young girl named Clara who receives a magical nutcracker doll on Christmas Eve and sets out on a wondrous journey to the Land of the Snow and the Kingdom of Sweets.

The Nutcracker comes to life in this magnificent ballet with beautiful sets, dazzling costumes, Tchaikovsky’s classic score, and more than 80 dancers on stage. Toy soldiers, life-sized dancing dolls, falling snow, a fantastic dream with battling mice, dancing snowflakes, waltzing flowers, gingerbread characters, and the delightful Sugar Plum Fairy stir the imagination. This is family entertainment at its best!

Additional performances Dec 13-14 at Bridges Auditorium, Pomona College in Claremont.

Family Activity: Storytime in the Gallery
2025-12-20 11:30 - 12:30 | American Museum of Ceramic Art, 399 N. Garey Ave, Pomona, 91767
Join us for storytime in the gallery in partnership with the Pomona Public Library! Children will enjoy a story and complementary age-appropriate art activity while viewing AMOCA’s exhibition In Their Hands: The Evolution of Mata Ortiz Pottery. Pre-registration is encouraged.

Studio Saturdays: Storytime in the Galleries The Buffalo Soldier
2025-12-20 12:00 - 14:00 | Ontario Museum of History & Art, 225 Euclid Ave, Ontario, CA, 91762, United States
Step into the galleries for a special reading of The Buffalo Soldier by Sherry Garland, illustrated by Ronald Himler. Follow the powerful story of a young man who, after gaining his freedom, joins an all-Black cavalry regiment and helps shape American history. After the reading, visitors are invited to participate in a hands-on art activity and guided reflection inspired by the themes of resilience, land, and identity. This program is open to all ages, with content designed especially for those ages 8 and up.
The program begins promptly at the stated time. Please plan to attend the full duration of the program. Registration is recommended but not required. All materials are provided.

Duke Ellington's Nutcracker Suite
2025-12-20 19:00 - 21:00 | Lewis Family Playhouse, 12505 Cultural Center Drive, Rancho Cucamonga, CA, 91739, United States
2 Performances Only!

Delight in the sounds of the Nutcracker with the flair that only Sir Duke Ellington could orchestrate. You will be enthralled with the sounds of a live Big Band Orchestra and the sights of delightful dancers swinging their way into the holiday season. Join us for a celebration of this signature holiday piece of music arranged by an American treasure, Duke Ellington.

First Friday; Pay What You Can Day
2026-01-02 11:00 - 2026-01-03 16:00 | American Museum of Ceramic Art, 399 N. Garey Ave, Pomona, 91767
Thanks to generous support from AMOCA’s Board of Directors, Museum admission for First Fridays at AMOCA is pay what you can. On the First Friday of each month, visit the Museum and choose your own ticket prices!

Butcher Paper Zines
2026-01-03 15:00 - 16:30 | Pomona Valley Pride, 235 West Mission Blvd., Pomona, California, 91766, United States
Big, bold, and unapologetically lo-fi—this zine explores the art of creating with butcher paper. From wall-sized posters to spontaneous street publications, learn how to turn cheap rolls into powerful, large-format storytelling tools.

Film Night: Buffalo Soldiers: Fighting on Two Fronts
2026-01-08 17:00 - 19:00 | Ontario Museum of History & Art, 225 Euclid Ave, Ontario, CA, 91762, United States
Experience an evening screening of Buffalo Soldiers: Fighting on Two Fronts, presented in conjunction with the exhibition For Race and Country: Buffalo Soldiers in California. The film examines Black soldiers’ service, segregation, and identity, highlighting their lasting impact on California and the nation. A facilitated discussion will follow the screening to explore the film’s themes and their connection to the current exhibition.
Light refreshments provided.

Introductory Clay Class: Wheel Throwing
2026-01-09 17:30 - 18:30 | American Museum of Ceramic Art, 399 N. Garey Ave, Pomona, 91767
Friday, January 9, 2026 •5:30-6:30 PM or 7:30-8:30 PM • In person • $75
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. Advance registration required.

Nature’s Way Fine Silver Pendant with Despina “Espie” Buoncristiani
2026-01-10 11:00 - 15:30 | The Sam and Alfreda Maloof Foundation for Arts and Craft, 5131 Carnelian Street, Rancho Cucamonga, CA, 91701, United States
Discover the beauty of the natural world and learn how to capture it in fine silver. In this hands-on workshop, you’ll create reusable molds from organic materials that reveal extraordinary detail. Once your mold has cured, you’ll use it to form your own unique pendant with Art Clay Fine Silver. Each piece will be kiln-fired and finished with a patina to bring out every delicate feature.
We’ll explore the extensive Maloof Gardens for inspiring organic forms, or you may choose from a curated selection of botanicals provided by the instructor. Your workshop fee includes tool use, a two-part mold compound (enough for one impression), 7g of Art Clay Silver, a sterling silver jump ring, and a leather cord for your finished pendant—plus a detailed instruction sheet to support continued exploration at home. Please bring a sack lunch. For more information, www.malooffoundation.org

Second Saturday Docent Tour
2026-01-10 15:00 - 15:30 | American Museum of Ceramic Art, 399 N. Garey Ave, Pomona, 91767
Saturday, January 10, 2026 • 3:00 PM • In Person
On the second Saturday of each month, AMOCA’s docents offer a guided look into one of our current exhibitions. January’s tour will focus on Fired in Revolution: Ceramics from the People’s Republic of China. Second Saturday tours are free with museum admission.

Closing Reception and Conversation for The Hard-Edged Genius of Karl Benjamin: Selections from the Family Collection
2026-01-11 14:00 - 16:00 | Chaffey Community Museum of Art, 217 S. Lemon, Ontario, CA, 91761
A Conversation with Beth Benjamin moderated by Wendy Slatkin and Timothy LeBlanc at 3 PM
Don’t miss the final opportunity to view this exhibition celebrating the diversity and creativity of noted Claremont painter Karl Benjamin on his 100th birthday. At 3 PM, Karl’s daughter Beth will provide insight into her father’s creative and artistic processes drawn from her time with him in his studio. Moderated by exhibition curator Dr. Wendy Slatkin and exhibition installer Timothy LeBlanc.

Winter Clay Classes @ The Studio
2026-01-12 12:00 - 17:00 | American Museum of Ceramic Art, 399 N. Garey Ave, Pomona, 91767
January -February 2026 • Days and Times vary • In Person
6-week ceramic courses for adults meet once a week and encourage development of ceramic skills, including hand-building, wheel throwing, and more!

Artist in Residence Information Session
2026-01-13 12:00 - 13:00 | American Museum of Ceramic Art, 399 N. Garey Ave, Pomona, 91767
Tuesday, January 13, 2026 • 12:00 – 1:00PM • Virtual
Join us for a conversation with AMOCA staff, alongside current/former resident artists, to learn more about the 2026-2027 Artist in Residence program. Applications open January 31, 2026.

Artisan Pinch Pot Workshop with Pottery Artist Christine Schwandt
2026-01-17 10:30 - 14:00 | The Sam and Alfreda Maloof Foundation for Arts and Craft, 5131 Carnelian Street, Rancho Cucamonga, CA, 91701, United States
Join pottery artist Christine Schwandt for an engaging, hands-on pinch pot workshop designed for all skill levels. Discover the traditional technique of pinch pottery as Christine guides you through shaping clay using your hands as the primary tools.
You’ll begin with a simple lump of clay, learning how to form, refine, and personalize your vessel. Christine will demonstrate methods for adding texture and decorative elements, encouraging your own creative approach throughout the process. All materials are provided.
After you complete your piece, Christine will take care of the firing and glazing, ensuring a finished pot that is both beautiful and durable. Completed pieces will be available for later pick-up.
Come ready to create in a supportive, inspiring environment and enjoy a memorable pottery experience with Christine Schwandt. Please bring a sack lunch.

The Store of Sturtevant’s The Store of Claes Oldenburg
2026-01-17 11:00 - 2026-05-17 16:00 | American Museum of Ceramic Art, 399 N. Garey Ave, Pomona, 91767
The exhibition, consisting of clay paintings, ceramics, and soft sculptures, began as an idea during Reniel Del Rosario’s undergraduate career at UC Berkeley. He was introduced early on to the work of Elaine Sturtevant, who became an inspiration for him in his clay-based art practice. It was through Sturtevant that Del Rosario learned about Oldenburg’s The Store, an iconic work in Pop Art history. Using plaster as his medium, Oldenburg mimicked consumer goods as mundane as cigarettes, undergarments and blueberry pie. Sturtevant’s version also used plaster, whereas Del Rosario’s presentation focuses on clay as the primary medium, along with some soft textile-based sculptures (which mimic original Oldenburg and Sturtevant soft sculptures).

After years of thinking that originality was the key to making anything ‘good,’ it amazed me that copying the already-existent did something that an original could not: critically play with its history and value. Sturtevant’s project had copied as much of Oldenburg’s as possible, from the medium, to the appropriated subjects, to the installation. It almost echoed a duplication; however, it did not. That was the most memorable part of her rendition—it was wrong many, many times. The colors were off, the sizes were wrong, key works or components were missing, works that were never part of Oldenburg’s The Store were incorrectly added, and many works had abnormalities that the originals did not. Comparing them to the original Oldenburg’s, I experienced moments with each work spotting the differences, drawing me in closer with each mistake, intentional or not. The appropriation was just the vehicle Sturtevant had used to make a point about privilege in the art world and who amongst her circle got recognition. It was that usage of the already existent to make a critique that made me acknowledge how appropriating, or ‘bootlegging’ as I like to refer to it, is less like duplicating and more akin to layering—adding a new cover, but still holding the original history, reference, and value underneath. – Reniel Del Rosario

Imitations have been part of Del Rosario’s life. He was born and raised in the Philippines where bootlegs of consumer products are abundant in the country’s public markets. As a child raised in the Bay Area, he was exposed to bootlegs and knock-offs in the city’s flea markets. Fraudulent goods persist in every corner of our consumerist society, from high fashion to everyday goods. These derivative, often poorly crafted copies, are perceived as symbols of unoriginality, poverty, and piracy. In a world full of riffs, borrowing, and theft, ‘being first’ is a virtuosic goal. In this work, Del Rosario ponders whether these goals of originality are in fact virtuosic or even realistically achievable in our media and image saturated world. By copying a copy, Del Rosario’s intention is not to simply prove that he can accurately mimic a work. Rather, he is interested in observing whether the original has changed in physical and/or perceptual ways through his imitations. Oldenburg’s The Store and Sturtevant’s The Store of Claes Oldenburg are decades old projects that have aged and changed in public perception. Their complete documentations are dispersed in private archives, often difficult to search and to pull as complete exhibition records as the works now live across multiple collections and institutions. Both bodies of work have transformed despite the artists never touching them again. Del Rosario’s bootlegs comment on the fact that their original counterparts were made by well-established artists within a friendly circle of heavyweight artist friends and art dealers. His versions are not replacements for Sturtevant or Oldenburg’s works—they are the contemporary alternatives for the criticisms they once presented.
Oldenburg’s The Store and Sturtevant’s The Store of Claes Oldenburg will be on view in the Igal & Diane Silber Vault Gallery at AMOCA from January 17–May 17, 2026.

Studio Saturdays: Dream World Collage
2026-01-17 12:00 - 15:00 | Ontario Museum of History & Art, 225 Euclid Ave, Ontario, CA, 91762, United States
Drop in and create a colorful collage with artist, Krafty Sunflower that reflects your hopes for a better future. Using magazines, found drawings, and colored paper, imagine a world filled with peace, respect, and acceptance of all people. Inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream of equality and justice, this hands-on activity invites participants of all ages to express their own vision for a kinder, more inclusive world.
All materials are provided for this drop-in workshop.
