Margaret Contreras
Editor-in-Chief
The exhibits “In Their Hands: The Evolution of Mata Ortiz Pottery,” “Hot and Ready to Serve,” and “Making In Between: Indigenous Americans,” all currently on display at the American Museum of Ceramic Art in Pomona, range from utilitarian ceramics to sculptures that make a political statement.
“Hot and Ready to Serve,” located on the main floor and running through Sept. 28, features ceramic works including mini salt and paper shakers, interesting tea sets, plates of different shapes and uses and more. The various colorful pieces in this exhibit also include an old fashioned typewriter, a rotary phone, ceramic lettuce and more.
“The ‘Hot and Ready’ was an exhibit made with items we had here at the museum already,” MudMobile instructor Samuel Reguerra said.
Mary Labrucherie, a La Verne alumna and retired teacher, was viewing the AMOCA exhibits last weekend with her cousin, Mimi Labrucherie.
“This would be a good place to take photos of the exhibits – and have fifth graders see a photo slide to see what names they would give them,” Mary Labrucherie said.
On the main floor in the Igal and Diane Silber vault gallery, “In Their Hands: The Evolution of Mata Ortiz Pottery” runs through Nov. 23. Within the vault the lavender walls showcase handmade, intricate ceramics.
“During the summer we have an intern from the Getty Foundation that put the Mata Ortiz exhibit together,” said museum store and guest services manager Melissa Scrivner.
One side of the wall shows the steps Ortiz took to create the pieces featured: From finding the clay to firing it in the kiln.
“There are historical pieces, there are contemporary pieces, there are whimsical pieces, there are functional, there are some pieces that are non functional,” Mimi Labrucherie said. “There’s just a little bit of everything.”
Ortiz’s works were brown, black, white and multi-color earth tones. One piece called Oso Effigy was of a bear with a fish in its mouth. The body of the bear had intricate designs visible when a light shined on it.
The “Making In Between: Indigenous Americans” exhibit runs through Nov. 30. It explores identity, culture and community.
It features works by Mercedes Dorame, Anita Fields, Courtney M. Leonard and Cannupa Hanska Luger, whose works explore boundary-pushing themes. There is a sculpture of a snake made out of tires and gasoline nozzles and there are two warriors.
Scrivner explained the name of the artwork, “This is Not a Serpent.”
“The piece is about the Dakota’s pipeline protest,” Scivner said. “The sculpture is made with things that have to do with the oil industry. And the warriors are the embodiment of the protester.”
AMOCA, at 399 N. Garey Ave., is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday through Sunday.
For more information, visit amoca.org.
Margaret Contreras can be reached at margaret.contreras@laverne.edu.
Magaret Contreras is a senior communications major with a concentration in public relations. She is editorial director and LV Life editor of the Campus Times and previously worked as editor-in-chief and a staff writer.
Bajot Rathor is a senior organizational management major with a concentration in leadership and management, along with minors in photography and American law. She is a staff photographer for the Campus Times and La Verne Magazine.
