Current
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Home in Aztlán: The Garcia Collection of Chicanx Art
The Museum is honored to present the rich Chicanx art collection of Cathy and Frank Garcia. Cathy, a mosaic artist, and Frank, a curator and organizer, have developed an art collection over decades that reflects a community-based approach to collecting. Involved in the annual exhibition Return to Aztlan at the dA Center for the Arts for many years, the Garcias, their home and collection are an integral part of the local and regional Chicanx art community.
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One of Your Girls or Your Homies: Tan Jazz Mont
As a companion to Home in Aztlan, an exhibition of recent work by Tan Jazz Mont will present paintings and sculpture at the intersection of autobiography, social commentary, and abstraction. Mont, a queer artist who lives and works in the Inland Empire, harvests the rich imagery of his Hispanic heritage to speak to the irresolvable complexities of identity.
Upcoming
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Sound Formations: Artist, Musician, Instrument Maker
Sound Formations is a group exhibition showcasing beautifully handcrafted musical instruments that can also be appreciated as works of art. Claremont and its surrounding region boast a rich and unique history of musicians and instrument makers. Many artists continue to create instruments in their workshops and studios, catering to musicians who value handcrafted pieces over mass-produced items. Claremont has made a significant impact on the music world. While this exhibition focuses on instruments and their makers, it also recognizes the important contributions of the many resident musicians.
The music culture in Claremont has deep roots in significant landmarks, including the establishment of the Folk Music Center by Charles and Dorothy Chase in 1958 and the opening of the Golden Ring music café in 1965. For many years, Claremont's live music scene thrived, largely due to the annual Folk Festival and the numerous live music venues in the area.
Sound Formations will include the works of Henry Barnes, Richard Barnes, Otto D'Ambrosio, Kris Erickson, Pete Escovedo, Steve Goode, Mike Kotzen, Martin Maudal, Jom Rivers, Victoria Rosas, Warren Shingleton and Dave Tourje.
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Free 4 All
Local artists will take over the Museum for CLMA’s annual one-day pop-up show from 4-9 pm. With no fees to exhibit and no gatekeepers to decide who is allowed to show their work, hundreds of artists will fill the Museum’s galleries with their work. Free 4 All is a commitment to unfiltered community building.
Join us in celebrating the amazing cultural bounty that surrounds us with free admission to the Museum, refreshments available and live music.
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Complications in Color
Complications in Color will celebrate the beauty of abstraction while also exploring how abstract art can be more complicated than it may appear. Historically, discussion of abstraction has focused on “purity” of form and ignored psychological and political contexts. Rachel Lachowicz uses the gendered codes of materiality and appropriation to recontextualize abstract objects as catalysts for feminist thought. In this light, the historical narrative of hard-edge abstract painting, and the inherent sexism of its canonization, is made more complex. Sculptor Terry
O’Shea also expands on abstraction through his use of lozenge forms, which grow out of the formalism of the light and space movement but also connote the chemical influence of pharmaceuticals or hallucinogens. The exhibition will also include work by Florence Arnold, Karl Benjamin, and June Harwood.
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She Opens the Door: Women Artists and Writers Shape Language and Space
Curated by Poet-in-Residence Chloe Martinez, She Opens the Door is a group show of contemporary artists exploring female agency at the intersection of language and art. The exhibition will feature artists from the Claremont and San Gabriel Valley communities, as well as Southern California at large. In addition to selecting artworks, Martinez will also provide poetry and writing to supplement the exhibition and invite other creative writers to contribute.
Language is crucial for exploring female autonomy and its relationship to the structures of patriarchy. As James Baldwin stated, “...the root function of language is to control the world by describing it.” Language is the filter through which we comprehend our reality and assert our agency. Language extends beyond written words on a page. The language of visual art is intricately linked to verbal language and plays a significant role in shaping our thoughts and existence.
