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A native of Camden County, Georgia, Andy
Porter has been pursuing the Ceramic Arts for several years now. While in high school, Andy attended Savannah College of Art & Design in 1999 and found his way to LaGrange
College in 2000. Originally
majoring in photography, Andy took a ceramics class just for fun, and somehow found himself taking one every semester until
he had a degree in it. Andy double majored in Ceramics and Art History and graduated with honors in 2004 from LaGrange College. His Art History studies led him to study art in Irelnd, England, Italy and France.
He also lectured at the Second Annual Georgia Art History Forum on Alberti, Mantegna, & Quattrocento Ideals and again
at the Third Annual Georgia Art History Forum on Romanticism’s Fascination with Aberrant Images. In 2005 Andy accepted
a Post-Baccaleureate Internship at LaGrange in the Lamar Dodd Arts Center where he worked as a graduate assistant and a graduate advisor for the Art Student League.
Using clay as his primary medium of expression, Andy strives to
create work that is perceptually pleasing and still fulfills a specific purpose. Andy tries to use everything he makes
at least once. If it doesn’t work properly, he usually discards it. Much of his work revolves around the pouring
vessel, as it allows an interaction between man and clay that creates positive energy.
Andy’s work has been featured in many ceramic exhibitions
around the country, and received various awards for his work. In March 2005, Andy was commissioned by the Georgia 4-H Foundation for their
Fundraiser, Clovers on Parade. Twenty terracotta sculptures of 4-leaf clovers were auctioned to benefit the Rock Eagle
4-H Center Pool Project in Eatonton, GA. Andy has also donated many works of art for Auctions with beneficiaries including
the Atlanta Zoo, the Big Brother & Big Sister Program, the American Cancer Society, Relay for Life, and the Alabama Railroad
Project.
Andy has also been included in a few publications;
most recently featured in the third issue of the St. Marys Magazine. In May 2006, Andy was juried into 500 Pitchers:
Contemporary Expressions of a Classic Form (A Lark Ceramics Book). 500 Pitchers is part of a series of juried gallery
books that features the world’s best in contemporary ceramics. Andy’s artwork is also part of numerous private
and permanent collections including the Lamar Dodd Arts Center, LaGrange, GA and Chiaroscuro Galleries, Chicago, IL.
In June of 2005, Andy returned to St. Marys after marrying his college sweetheart, Katie Harwell of Madison, Georgia. While in St. Mary's, Andy worked for two years as
the Senior Design Consultant for Dalton Signs, Inc. He was very involved in the graphic arts and enjoyed the large format
printing industry. Working in advertising was a great experience.
It was Andy's eye for color that moved the Porter's back to LaGrange, GA in October of 2007. Andy now works for InterfaceFLOR,
Inc. as a Custom Development Designer. Outside of the office, Andy and Katie are avid gardeners. They bought a beautiful
1925 Craftsman-style Cottage on Park Ave near downtown. They have two dogs, Emma & Gurtie. Andy is working
towards having a ceramic studio at home and hopes to be able to teach ceramics in the future. Andy finds more enjoyment
in teaching someone else, than doing so himself. He realizes the importance of a handmade object and wishes to instill
in others his admiration and passion for clay.
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"500
PITCHERS"
A Lark Ceramics Book
Released May 28, 2006
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