Befitting a town with seven renowned colleges, Claremont, 30 miles east of downtown Los Angeles, is rife with cultural treasures. With several unique museums, a thriving arts and music scene, and the world’s largest collection of native California flora, those who crave arts and culture can surely get their fix.
Museums
Local museums include The Raymond M. Alf Museum of Paleontology, the only nationally accredited museum located on a high school campus in the nation, and the Claremont Lewis Museum of Art, now housed in the historic Claremont Depot. The Petterson Museum of Intercultural Art at Pilgrim Place offers rotating culturally-themed exhibits of an impressive collection of international artifacts.
The new Benton Museum of Art at Pomona College, designed by Machado Silvetti and Gensler, houses Pomona College’s collection of art that numbers 18,000 objects, including Italian Renaissance paintings from the Samuel H. Kress Foundation; works on paper, including a first edition print series by Francisco Goya given by Norton Simon; and works in various media produced in Southern California in the twentieth century. In keeping with Pomona College’s reputation as a leading center of the visual arts, the collection also includes works by such esteemed alumni as Chris Burden ’69, Marcia Hafif ’51, Helen Pashgian ’56, Peter Shelton ’73, and James Turrell ’65. Recognized globally for its commitment to contemporary art, the museum is the home of The Project Series, which has featured more than 50 contemporary Southern California artists since it began in 1999. Through its collaboration with students and faculty, the museum encourages active learning and creative exploration across all disciplines of study within the liberal arts context.
Art
Whether at the colleges or strolling through the Village, visitors to Claremont will find multiple galleries such as Studio C
laremont and Ruth Chandler Williamson Gallery, plus dozens of pieces of dazzling, world-class public art. Find other galleries on the campuses of Harvey Mudd and Pitzer Colleges.
Art exhibitions are showcased throughout the Claremont Village during the First Saturday Art Walk, which is held on the first Saturday of the month from 6 to 9 p.m. The event is open and free to the public.
More unique public art and gardens can be found on the college campuses.
Unique Cultural Offerings
If you think nature is the ultimate artist, you’ll want to visit the California Botanic Garden, the largest botanic garden dedicated to California native plants and the 10th largest herbarium in the United States. Tours are an ideal way to learn more about the garden and California native plants. Guided walking tours, self-led group visits, narrated tram tours for visitors with impaired mobility, and regularly scheduled guided tram tours are all available. For more information, call 909-625-8767. The Margaret Fowler Garden on the Scripps College campus, which was featured in Westways Magazine, is also open to the public.
Quirky reading, anyone? Local artwork and an eclectic array of books can be found at The Claremont Forum Bookshop & Gallery, run by the Claremont Forum, a non-profit community organization that sponsors the nationwide Prison Library Project and sends hundreds of books a month to inmates nationwide.
Claremont is also home to the Midsummer Shakespeare Festival presented by Ophelia’s Jump Productions, hosted at the beautiful outdoor Sontag Greek Theatre at Pomona College. Much like the Hollywood Bowl, picnicking – with wine – is encouraged!
Music
The Piano Piano Dueling Piano Show, geared for those who prefer adult humor with their tunes, is home to world-class performers, most of whom regularly appear in Las Vegas.
Seasoned musicians and novices alike will enjoy discovering a collection of rare and antique musical instruments and artifacts from around the world at the famous Folk Music Center Museum and Store, owned by the family of Grammy-winning, singer-songwriter Ben Harper. In addition to the opportunity to play one of the magnificent musical instrum
ents displayed on the wall, the Folk Music Center offers classes and workshops for budding musicians, a lineup of musical performances from local and international folk performers, and an Open Mic on the last Sunday of every month.
