art is my middle name

philip arthur porter

textile art

I have a Masters degree in Visual Design from the University of California at Berkeley. I went there to study textiles as a fine art from a marvelous man named Ed Rossbach. Baskets were his specialty, both contemporary and modern. Since some traditional baskets were made from reeds soaked in water to make them pliable, and since some basketmakers actually submerged the reeds as they worked, you might say that I came very close to getting a Masters degree in Underwater Basketweaving.

You might say it, but you probably shouldn't.

I still do textile artwork to this day. My current fascination is crocheting small, single-thread basket/sculpture thingies. I hand-dye the string in complicated ways to create colors and patterns. Are you getting this? I don’t change string to get the change in color—it is all of a piece. The dyeing process is top-secret, although I have blabbed it to a few people if they show enough interest. (Actually, if they show any interest at all.) I crochet a lot on airplanes, if I have the nerve. At take-off on one flight, I dropped my ball of yarn and it rolled about 15 rows back. Now that was embarrassing!

Visits since April 13, 2009

Website counter

Although a few people call me “Philip” and fewer still have called me “Felipe” or “Philodendren,” I have gone through most of my life as “Phil.” If I were to use Philip more consistently, I think I would have to demand that everyone say it with an English accent, to keep it crisp. Otherwise it goes a little flat—“fillup”—like the sound of a loose shoe sole on hard pavement.

My middle name honors Arthur Weimer who was the Dean of the School of Business at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, where my father was a professor and administrator.

I come from a line of Porters either short or long, who knows. That particular line of Porters will die out before too long, because in my round of siblings and cousins, the boys didn’t beget boys who might pass on the Porter name, and the girls seem to have taken on their husbands’ names. So the Porters will be drowned out by “Cohns” and “McGuires” and “Flodders” at least in the descendants closest to me. (I have no children, thank God, and my only brother has three daughters. What ever happened to that feminist concept of keeping your own name? Those three beautiful and liberated and charming young women certainly didn’t!)

In the crowd in which I run, people are often changing their names—in every which way—especially as they “find themselves.” Mostly I couldn't take the time or trouble, but when I do imagine the possibility, I can imagine myself as “Art.” For the moment, though, I am happy to be able to say to folks “Art is my middle name.” I was surprised and delighted when I found out that “artismymiddlename.com” had not been taken.

lindsay lohan dress malfunction

cocktail dress evening gown iv strong

dolce dress jovani

holloween fancy dress

matte jersey wrap dress

guayabera dress

kohls prom dress

dress shir tailored

avanti mother of the bride dress

onyx nite dress

kaufmanns prom dress

adam betsy dress prom

belk prom dress

grammy kelly clarkson dress

padme dress

chantilly dress evening jessica lace mcclintock

burgandy flower girl dress

burgandy dress flower girl

junnie leigh dress

gk skating dress

delray dress man shirt

addams dress wednesday

wednesday addams dress

easter dress 3t

2006 dress niteline prom

2006 dress poofy prom

baby dress pagent

dress evening shantung

prm dress

2005 dress jovani

belt dress garter heel hose nylons pantie stocking story

dollywood dress

dress katherine malfunction mcphee

2005 jovani dress

xv anos dress

pzaz dress

kiki prom dress

dress up stripperella

dress homecoming zum zum

smocked peasant dress

letoile communion dress

debs dress shops

mestiza dress

dress lost pantie pants shorts skirt undies

dream dress.com

design dress landa prom

dress ghetto iv prom strong

backless dress sexy skirt upskirt

dress up people.com

youngland dress

debora rachelle prom dress

debora dress prom rachelle

dress klinger mash size wear

fuchsia bridesmaid dress

bridesmaid dress lds

bridesmaid dress michelangelo

dress filenes prom

mumu dress

charmeuse prom dress

bust dress mini opaque open

albas dress jessica malfunction

necessary objects lace babydoll dress

2005 abs allen by dress oscar schwartz

james perse cami dress

battenburg dress

bridesmaid dress teal

dress liu ma skirt wei

dress barbie.com

serena williams see thru dress

folkloric dress

mondor dress

dress halter homecoming top

dress helenas

dress nordstroms

dress up girl.com

bridesmaid design dress raylia

bridal dress gilroy

dress sizzler

dress fairweather prom

admor alexia dress

collarless dress shirt

papell dress

linda bernell prom dress

sizzler dress

xcite prom dress 2005

4t dress pageant

4t pageant dress

brides mades dress

doll dress newgrounds up

beaded boutique dress js mesh sleeveless

dress fairy godmother prom

dress hatcher sheer

dress imaternity maternity

dress pumpkin smocked

rose mcgowan mtv dress

rose mcgowan dress mtv

alvina dress valenta

babe dress red suga

adjustable dress female form mannequin

jasz couture prom dress

maggie sorrento dress

bootss dress womens

de laru prom dress

bridesmaid dress segal shelli

interlude prom dress

dress kameez pakistani salwar

dress interlude prom

dress fishtail

tadashi designer dress

periwinkle bridesmaids dress

consignment dress national pageant

designer dress tadashi

national pageant dress consignment

national pageant dress on consignment

christmas dress rosalina

siri bridesmaids dress

bridesmaid dress iv strong strong winter

trudys prom dress

willbeth dress

onyx nite prom dress

dress game raven symone up

dress infant pagent

dress nite onyx prom

dress pizazz

michelangelo prom dress

coktail dress

famous barr prom dress

city dress unltd

melania trump dress

biscotti infant dress

mascarade dress

hechts dress

cera dress floral la

dj dress formal jc night penney

dress prom skanky

2005 dress faviana prom

3t dress level national pageant

rose mcgowan red carpet dress

jessica mcclintock prom dress 2004

aspeed bridesmaid dress

alyn paige dress

dance dress matric

2004 dress prom xcite

dress li ling skirt yi ying

dress green homecoming lime

dress evening long satin shantung

jodi kristopher prom dress

corinna dress foley