AMOCA Reopens After $2.5 Million, Five-Year Renovation

The American Museum of Ceramic Art in Pomona will unveil the results of its $2.5 million, five-year renovation with a free public celebration on Sunday, November 15, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., at 399 N. Garey Ave. AMOCA members get an earlier preview at 10 a.m.; RSVPs are open at amoca.org/events.

The renovation adds six new spaces and an expanded education hall, among other upgrades. Executive Director Beth Ann Gerstein framed the reopening plainly: "It's just like a big welcome," she said. "Come see what's new and exciting at AMOCA…All of these new spaces are just going to rock 'n' roll our programing. We can do so much more programmatically in spaces that are beautiful and well-designed."

What changed inside the building?

The education hall now seats 160 people, double its former capacity of 80. It gained sculptural acoustic tiles, a new sound system, new lighting and a 15-foot LED TV.

"No matter where you're sitting in the hall, you're going to be able to see and hear well," Gerstein said. The hall also serves the museum's K-12 school tours. "It used to give them a place to have lunch, now they'll have a nice place to have lunch."

The space will additionally house a 50-foot John Mason sculpture from 1959, currently undergoing conservation after its move from a Palm Springs spa.

Other additions:

• A collection study room where staff and artists can examine works from AMOCA's 13,000-piece permanent collection, with staff-led object discussions for college and other groups
• A 120-cubic-foot sculpture kiln and a new ceramics studio classroom on the west end of the studio, with new HVAC, tables and racks, hosting Friday evening classes and weekly programming
• A kids makerspace accommodating up to 20 children
• A reading lounge drawing on AMOCA's 8,000-volume art library
• A curatorial preparation space in Gallery B for moving and storing the collection more efficiently
• Two ADA-compliant ramps, at the entrance and between Galleries A and B, plus eight all-gender bathrooms, a baby changing station and a water fountain

The study room also gives storage a second life as display. "If there's a show that has a theme, that we have pieces in the collection that for whatever reason didn't end up in the show, they can be out in the collection study room," Gerstein said.

With help from Peter Coye and renewable energy company ReJoule, the museum secured state funding to install 120 solar panels to power the nonprofit.

What does this change for visitors?

Associate Director of Communications and Stewardship Genevieve Kaplan said the dedicated spaces close a consistency gap: "I'm most excited about having all these new ways to engage visitors, specifically in these new spaces, because we've been doing it, but we haven't been doing it consistently or been able to have that dedicated space to do it."

Gerstein acknowledged the obstacles: COVID, shifting supply chains, years of fundraising, and staying open throughout construction. "In the collection study room, artists work will get seen more," she said. "The education hall … everybody's going to benefit from that because of all the different uses for it."

She credited 87 families, six foundations and six businesses "whose generosity brought this project to life."

The next ambition is already on the table — a renovation of the building's exterior — but not immediately. "We'll need to take a breather after this before we start fundraising again for the next thing," Gerstein said.