The American Museum of Ceramic Art is proud to present the fourth in its series of shows entitled kilnopening.edu 2012, a biennial exhibition of Southern California college ceramic instructors and their students. In addition to the works of more than 20 ceramics instructors for kilnopening.edu, AMOCA is excited to host the fifth annual international teapot competition, Big Fish, Small Pot V. This exhibition, new to AMOCA’s venue, in combination with kilnopening.edu, mark the first time that AMOCA has hosted two exhibitions simultaneously, taking full advantage of the museum’s new space at 399 N. Garey Ave.

kilnopening.edu 2012 will honor Vince Palacios from El Camino College as the featured artist and guest lecturer as well as over 50 Southern California Ceramics instructors. Among the participating institutions and instructors are: Jean Bliss & Ginny Barrett from Cal State Fullerton, Kelly & Trent Berning from Mira Costa College, John Hopkins & Steve Horn from
Riverside Community College, Tracey Weiss & Steven Portigal from Cerritos College, Luis Bermudez, Stacey Kalkowski from Cal State L.A., Richard Burkett from San Diego State, William Catling from Azusa Pacific University, Melody Cooper from Pierce College, Patrick Crabb from Santa Ana College, Kevin A. Myers from Orange Coast College, Katie Queen &
Patsy Cox from Cal State Northridge, Sasha Reibstein from Palomar College, Stanton Hunter from Chaffey College, Molly Schulps from Cypress College and Julie Schustack from the University of Southern California.

Part of the goal of the kilnopening.edu series of exhibits is to expose the public to the variety and strength of Southern California ceramics programs and encourage the next generation of ceramic artists. Accommodated by AMOCA’s new and expanded space, this year’s kilnopening.edu will feature larger installations and a greater range of ceramics departments than previously possible. In addition, AMOCA’s education department is partnering with promising High School ceramic students to present a juried High School component.

Big Fish, Small Pot V is a biennial, international small teapot competition. Previously hosted by Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, artists from around the world will compete to win a trip to China, the birthplace of the teapot.

The works in both exhibitions will be for sale with proceeds to benefit AMOCA. The American Museum of Ceramic Art’s mission is to educate by presenting, collecting, and preserving significant ceramic achievements of the world's cultures from ancient times to the present and through aesthetic and technical study to develop a deeper understanding of
cultural values and traditions.

The American Museum of Ceramic Art is also pleased to introduce an outstanding, 125-piece collection of Royal Worcester porcelain, owned by Robert and Colette Wilson. These meticulously crafted works represent a portion of a promised gift to AMOCA’s permanent collection.