If you haven't heard enough good news out of Pomona lately, check out the city's museums and art galleries.

Check out the revitalized Pomona Arts Colony, which includes AMOCA, the American Museum of Ceramic Art, possibly the city's crown jewel.

AMOCA is one of the few museums in the United States devoted exclusively to the ceramic arts.

This internationally renowned museum has hosted extraordinary exhibitions featuring top ceramic artists from all over the world.

Its current show hails from a little closer to home.

Through Aug. 16 AMOCA will host "Diversity in Clay" spotlighting members of the American Ceramic Society, Southern California Design Chapter.

All artists are from the Southland including Yoko Miyahira Bostwick, Marjorie Heady and William Waters from Claremont, Gina Lawson-Egan from Ontario, John W. Hopkins from Riverside and Kieth Brockie from San Bernardino, among others.
Fritz Nugent of Redlands entered three pieces of his work and was thrilled to have one selected.

"I am honored to be in this show," said Nugent, a 24-year-old University of Redlands student. "They have some amazing work coming through this museum."

Nugent's sculpture, a 24-inch-tall vessel with boxes carved into the earth-toned surface, took him about a year to complete. He has a bachelor's degree in studio art with an emphasis in ceramics and sculpture. Nugent is currently finishing his master's degree in higher Advertisement education.

"Because we also play a role in the community we dedicate one show a year to our local artists, giving Southern California artists an opportunity to showcase their work," said AMOCA director Christy Johnson.

There were more than 250 submissions. Whittling the list down to 130 pieces from 90 artists was not an easy task. Judges included Johnson, AMOCA's assistant curator Ansley Davies and three members from the American Ceramic Society, Southern California Design Chapter.

Chosen works varied in styles, colors and subject matter. They included vessels and sculptures with such subject matters as humor, irony, politics, environment, realism and abstract.

"I look for a body of work that shows a person knows what they're doing," said Johnson about her judging style. "I look for strength, something well-crafted and that stands out."

What concerns Johnson is the ever-present uncertainty that young people will gain exposure to this dramatic art form.
"Ceramics is always in danger when it comes to education budgets," she said. "When cutbacks come, ceramics is such an easy thing to justify cutting. It's an expensive program to run so it's easy to say `get rid of it."'

Johnson feels strongly about keeping children exposed to this art form.

"It gives children a way of thinking they can't get any other way," she said. "It's the best exercise in three-dimensional art they could get."

Johnson is proud of "Diversity in Clay." It offers various perspectives using a common medium. She hopes it ignites an interest for locals.

"Being local it's easy for a lot of the artists to get to," she said. "They bring with them their families: brothers, fathers, parents, grandchildren, best friends. It's a way to show the community what's going on here. It will raise the awareness so that more people will know about the museum."

Those interested in meeting the artists can attend the exhibit's artist reception from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday. It's free and there will be light refreshments.

Exhibit pieces are for sale, and a portion of proceeds will benefit AMOCA and the American Ceramic Society, Southern California design chapter.

diana.sholley@inlandnewspapers.com

(909) 483-9381