Meet Bree Devones Hsieh | Artist and Social Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Bree Devones Hsieh and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Bree, what’s something about your industry that outsiders are probably unaware of?
One could make many correct assumptions about our non-profit Library Foundation. Some might be, how crucial funds are for resources and programming (like our Pomona Library Foundation Homework Club, or Summer Cultural Excursions), not in the city budget. They may also be aware that as a Library Foundation, we’re able to partner with the city of Pomona in areas of building renovations and landscaping improvements. We host a yearly Mayor’s Gala in early June, which is all pizzazz, to raise all those funds. But they may not be aware of how scrappy we are! Our administrator and about half of our board actually built all the new tables we ordered with donated funds for the Public Conference Room and Homework Club!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My life and work has taken quite a few turns and encompassed a whole range of what you would call creative, non-profit, and community-focused engagement, all of which I’ve loved. I really love that I’ve been a part of so many flexible, dedicated and scrappy organizations and projects! I think my artistic work incorporates those characteristics as well. As a run-down of the range, I started out after college in Pomona California working with an organization focused on long-term holistic community transformation and development, Servant Partners, with a local non-profit of Pomona Hope. With our anchor church, we not only worked with neighbors to organize for improved community infrastructure (lighting) and local tutoring, but negotiated with the city to take care of an empty lot and turn it into a community garden! Broadening that community connection, I worked with Professor Kyle Brown, at Cal Poly Pomona’s Lyle Center for Regenerative Studies, until Covid put us on hold, to run a regular Placemaking community meeting, where any attendees would work together on Placemaking projects in Pomona! As I was working in the community, I was also giving time to my own creative work, both poetry and painting. In the spirit of scrappiness and the art of making, I learned bookmaking and printmaking in order to produce my own chapbooks of which I’ve published two, with a third in the works. I’ve continued to work in gouache, acrylic and oil painting, but I’ve recently added sculptural assemblage, and I’m working with a local ceramic artist to add pieces that I could not find, but can make! into those works. I’ve also wanted to keep investing in the community. The two areas I’m able to do that currently are through the Pomona Public Library Foundation, where I serve as president (and chair of our Gala fundraiser coming up on June 12th!) and the Fair Day Studio at the Fairplex, a new drop-in co-work art studio at the Millard Sheets Art Center, with free working space and supplies for LA area artists.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Pomona is an amazing city! Here’s my itinerary for my visitor (Make sure you come when you can hit a 2nd Saturday in the month for Art Walk! While you’re here, consider staying at the beautiful Marriot, Suites at Sheraton Fairplex. You’ll have quick access if there’s any interesting conferences to take in, or if it’s in May, enjoy the LA County Fair, with Rides, Food, Farm animals and Fun!

Monday – a.m. coffee at Mi Cafecito
Start out with a fun & free Lawn Bowling class! https://pomonalawnbowlingclub.com/
Grab an amazing sandwich at The Brick Deli – https://brickdelieats.com/
Boba Tea Zone for a snack

Start with a craving or a vibe – find your favorite type of food nearby with Yelp

Tuesday – a.m. coffee at Wish You Were Here
CalPoly Pomona Day! Enjoy at day strolling around the beautiful campus at CalPoly Pomona.
Be sure to check out the Farm Store and Nursery https://www.cpp.edu/farmstore/contact.shtml
Aratani Japanese Garden https://www.japanese-city.com/calendar/events/index.php?com=location&lID=793
The Restaurant at Kellogg Ranch – a student run gourmet dining experience.
(Reservations required. https://www.cpp.edu/rkr/index.shtml)
Innovation Brew Works https://www.ibrewworks.com/
W. K. Kellogg Arabian Horse Stables https://www.cpp.edu/rkr/index.shtml
Kellogg House Mansion https://www.kellogghouse.com/tours-2/

Wednesday –
a.m. coffee at Thirsty Girl
Find a few treasures on Antique Row on 2nd street
Take in lunch at the Rookery
Books galore! Afternoon reading at Cafe Con Libros https://cafeconlibrospress.org/
Stroll Through Pomona’s Historic Lincoln Park Neighborhood
https://www.laconservancy.org/save-places/community-preservation/pomona/
after picking up some Donahoo’s Chicken for a picnic at Lincoln Park
Healthy dinner tonight! Lopez Urban Farm Night Market 5-7pm and then some sushi and sake specials at J Sushi

Thursday – a.m. coffee at Cavice
Shopping at Pomona Valley Indoor Swap Meet https://www.facebook.com/PomonaVISM/
African American Museum of Beginnings https://www.taamb.org/
Find a unique game (the owner has probably played it!) at Game Nights shop downtown
Take your pick of food at the 909 Open Market at the Union for dinner

Friday – a.m. coffee and breakfast at Gud 2 Go at the Union on Garey
Walk up the Stairs at Ganesha Park
Lunch at McKinley’s Grille
Visit the NHRA museum
Be creative at the open studio time at Fair Day Studio at the Fairplex Fridays 1-5
https://fairplex.com/event/fair-day-art-studio/
Find your favorite taco at Tacolandia https://www.facebook.com/909Tacolandia/

Saturday
Sleep in of course
11am – 4pm Take a look at the current exhibit and ceramics collection at AMOCA https://www.amoca.org/
Walk through the bustling ART WALK on a 2nd Saturday 4pm – 10pm
While you’re seeing local artists work, make sure and stop by:
The dA Art Center Exhibit
Exhibit at the Sasse Museum
African American Advisory Alliance
Thrifting at hip La Bomba
Pinbug Arcade https://pinbugpomona.com/
Downtown Dinner at Hilltop Jamaican – https://www.hilltopjamaican.com/
Catch a show at the Glass House or the Haven
Grab a glass of wine at the Winebar

Sunday –
Have a filling and leisurely brunch at El Jefe or Luchador
Historic Tour at one of four sites managed by Historic Sociary of the Pomona Valley
Palomares Adobe, Barbara Greenwood and Casa Primera or Philips Mansion
https://www.pomonahistorical.org/copy-of-public-tours
Sunday Wellness Workshop at the dA – local spot for arts and community building
Schedule: https://www.dacenter.org/da-workshops
If it’s a 2nd Sunday stop by the Garden Railroad http://fgrr.org/
and the RailGiants Train Museum http://www.railgiants.org/ at the Fairplex
Wrap up your trip with a romantic dinner on the hill overlooking the city lights at Coco Palm Restaurant

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would dedicate this Shoutout to everyone in Pomona California making the city a more vibrant, positive, creative, and connective place to be!

Other: Noted in this article:
Handmade books: https://www.breedevoneshsieh.com/
Some paintings: https://www.saatchiart.com/breedevoneshsieh
Pomona Hope: https://www.pomonahope.org/
Pomona Pres Church: https://www.pomonapres.org/
Placemaking: https://www.pps.org/
Pomona Public Library Foundation: https://www.pomonalibraryfoundation.org/
Pomona Public Library Foundation 2025 Mayor’s Gala: https://www.pomonalibraryfoundation.org/gala
Fair Day Art Studio: https://fairplex.com/events/upcoming-events/