Much like Andy Warhol who created art using Coke bottles, Brillo boxes and soup cans, Michael Porter also uses replicas of objects along with childhood memories for his inspiration as he creates art. In the hierarchy of art, in case you didn't know, Mike says painting is at the top of the list and ceramics is at the bottom! But he has managed to master both! Many of his ceramic creations reflect the era just after World War II and the beginning of modern electronics. He loves starting with a lump of clay which always “challenges” his creativity.
For his License
Plate series he took a simple piece of history and used it to symbolize man’s
individualism and freedom. Typically, as humans we resist being labeled or put
into categories. In like manner even license plates can show a piece of personalized
history and identity, which is symbolic of mankind’s individualism and
freedom. He has created over 1000 license
plates and about 100 sculptures.
The creative
process is very important to Porter and correlates with Robert Fritz’s view of
art: “Love is what creating is about; it is generative rather than simply
responsive.” Porter’s art has a two-fold process: He first envisions what he wants to make and
then takes that idea, “through a doorway into a darkened room metaphorically
speaking.” As I mentally step further into the room “the darkness starts to
dissipate and creation begins. It is much like the birthing process in which
the idea unfolds and grows into its creative final form,” he explained.
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| Michael's Bud Light! |
For over 50 years
Michael has kept his hands covered with clay while mastering the potter’s wheel. In the process he has also has taught hundreds
of others this tactile art. He began his teaching career in 1987 in Manti where
he taught art and also coached basketball. He and Sherri moved their family to Blanding in 1997 when he accepted a teaching job in Monument Valley. He also taught at
Whitehorse High School from 2005-2012 and coached the Raiders Basketball team
during those years.
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| Drawing Michael did of his father |
"Teaching art has been an added blessing in my life. The driving force in teaching art is loving what you do. Two of my most favorite things to do are making art and then teaching. There is no greater satisfaction in teaching art than creating a fire within a student and watching the student's excitement in creating and displaying their art."
Michael taught art for 17 years beginning at Manti H S and then taught art at Monument Valley HS for 6 years, then left to work on his Masters of Fine Arts at BYU (3 years). "In 2005 I started teaching at Whitehorse HS. During those 17 years of teaching, there were many students who have excelled and developed into fine artists and art teachers, winning art awards and displaying there art at the all HS art show in Springville Utah and Santa Fe New Mexico," he explained.
"Three of my former students are now teaching art and many are creating art professionally. I have mentored three student teachers; two at Monument Valley and one at Whitehorse HS."
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| This potter can also paint! |
For his Masters of
Fine Arts from BYU exhibit, his art was curated
and showcased by Lee Cowan at his gallery in Springville, Ut. There were two
categories: one portraying light and guidance such as “Lehi’s Compass” and “Chandelier.”
The Post-Industrial Culture pieces which
were placed on pedestals. Items for this
exhibit were selected because they reflected a time period just after WWII and
the beginning of modern electronics and technology that exploded in the 1960’s
and ‘70’s. “I wanted to shed light on the culture of that era,” he explained.
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| Lehi's Compass |
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| Underside of a ceramic chandelier |
His unique
creations have attracted buyers from all over the world from Santa Fe to Germany,
Great Britain, Scotland and Tokyo, Japan.
Several of his former students have also gone on to be creative potters:
Leo and Chris Blackhorse and Herman Oliver. He also mentored Nikki Saffrit when
she was doing her student teaching. She now teaches art at San Juan High and inspires a new generation of artists! Abe Lyman is one of his current students. "Both Nikki and Abe have great aptitude for making pottery!"
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| Most likely this trumpet would have an "uncertain" sound |
Michael grew up in a small farming community in Mt. Pleasant, Utah which gave him endless opportunities to explore, observe and build amazing treehouses. “Sometimes I would draw up plans for a treehouse or a soapbox car; my parents provided many opportunities to learn, explore and use my imagination; my father was an amazing artist.” He often watched his dad paint and draw in his little studio. “He’d give me instructions and advice and I would draw endlessly from those ideas and pictures. Curiosity was a driving force in my life.”
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| Canteens made for Huff to Bluff Race 2015/16 |
He earned his Bachelors of Fine Arts from Utah State University in 1972 and a business degree from the University of So. Calif in 1985. Later he earned his teaching degree from SUU in 1990. He and his wife Sherrie have 8 children and 25 grandchildren; several of them are also artistic. Their son, John Vernon Porter, works out of a studio in Arcadia California and created this stone lizard for "The Stone Lizard" in Blanding. "All of our children have been involved in the arts: music, dance, painting and pottery"
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Stone Lizard created by son, John Vernon, Porter Arcadia California |
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| Family goats painted by their son |
Other Milestones:
*2014-- Best of Show: Four Corners Arts, Cortez Colo:
“Industrial Seed Pod”
*2009--Utah’s Outstanding Art Educator of the year,
presented at the Springville Museum of Art. In a Panorama Articles published
March 18, 2009 it stated that Porter had taught since 2005 grades 7-12. He
taught such tings as art foundations, printmaking, ceramics, typography and
cartooning.
*2005 & 2006: Back-to-back purchase awards from the National
Ceramic Show: Feats of Clay, Lincoln, Ca.
*2005—Provo Freedom Festival art exhibit: Jurors
Choice Award for ceramic “Sousaphone—the Last March”
*2004--Student and Faculty Show: Brigham Young
University—Jurors Choice Award
*1993—Six County Invitational, Snow College Ephraim,
Utah—1st Place
*1992-- Horseshoe Mountain Invitational: Mt Pleasant,
Utah –1st place Watercolor
This video on YouTube shows some of his efforts: https://youtu.be/yW1CxImFN0o
