A free opening reception for the American Museum of Ceramic Art’s latest exhibit, “Breaking Ground: Women in California Clay,” takes place from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday, September 10.

Pre-registration is required at amoca.org/events/breaking-ground-rec-20220910. Drop by early to mingle with artists; opening remarks are scheduled for 4:30 p.m. The museum is at 399 N. Garey Ave., Pomona, CA 91767.

The exhibit celebrates the contributions of 44 women artists that made strides in ceramics creation over the past century. It is the first of its kind to “chronologize the evolution of ceramic in California solely through the work of women artists,” according to an AMOCA news release, and will also be the first exhibit presented across all three of the museum’s ground-floor galleries, spanning 8,800 square-feet.

The overarching story of the exhibit is told in three sections. The first chapter includes 14 artists who “laid the groundwork for the field and inspired successive generations of artists.” The second chapter includes works by 14 more artists who “explore the female figure, feminism, and the creation of the perfect form.” The third chapter represents a younger generation of artists — 16 in total — whose work “traverse themes of politics, identity, the environment, and the prevailing issues of globalization, colonialism, and reclaiming histories,” a news release read.

The exhibit is curated by AMOCA Executive Director Beth Ann Gerstein, adjunct curator Jo Lauria, and California College of the Arts and University of California, Berkeley professor Edith Garcia. Research for this project was supported by a Craft Research Fund grant from the Center for Craft.

The exhibition will be featured on the museum’s website, and on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter using the hashtag #womeninCAclay.

Click on amoca.org, call (909) 865-3146, or email communications@amoca.org for more info.