Audio By Carbonatix
Phoenix is brimming with creativity. And every other year, we put the spotlight on 100 of the city’s creative forces. Leading up to the release of this year’s Best of Phoenix issue, we’re profiling 100 more. Welcome to the 2014 edition of 100 Creatives. Up today: 46. James D. Porter.
“Typically we go about our work quietly in classrooms and libraries across Arizona bringing education to life,” James D. Porter says.
Porter, 45, is referring to his work with Arizona Curriculum Theater, a nonprofit troupe he founded in 2009 that travels to schools in the Phoenix area and connects the arts to in-class curriculum.
But once a year, Porter and Arizona Curriculum Theater step out of the classroom and onto the stage for their annual PoeFest. “PoeFest is ACT Inc.’s biggest event of the year and the only time the public gets to see what we do,” Porter says.
See also: Phoenix Artist Constance McBride: 100 Creatives
In October, ACT will present the sixth annual edition of PoeFest (which is exactly what it sounds like: a festival of Edgar Allan Poe’s works) at Hotel San Carlos. If past editions of the event are any indication, it’ll be a scream.
I came to Phoenix with too many winter coats.
I make art because I eat, drink, and breathe for my body and I make art for my soul. I think every human desires to create art and we express it in a variety of ways as diverse as the colors of the rainbow. Art fills our world – it is everywhere. It is like another language – a form of communication more powerful than any other.
I’m most productive when I am inspired. An idea can almost seize my being and not let go until the thought has been expressed.
My inspiration wall is full of autographed photos and posters from artists who have inspired or delighted me. My collection includes Mel Brooks, John Cleese, Gene Wilder, Mummenschanz, and “Weird Al” Yankovic.
I’ve learned most from observation. As an actor, there is no greater tool than keeping your mind and your eyes open.
Good work should always be shared. I believe art is a form of language that must be communicated in order to complete the cycle. If you’re doing good work, it isn’t art until that work is communicated to others. Emily Dickinson, for example, was just some strange recluse until her poems were published. Now we think of her as one of the greatest poets in history.
The Phoenix creative scene could use more support. More people need to rediscover the rich local arts that we have in Phoenix. You don’t always need to go to the big venues to see the big names or popular shows in order to see great art. There is more great art right in our backyards being created by our neighbors that you can go and see everyday.
See the 2014 edition of 100 Creatives:
100. Bill Dambrova
99. Niki Blaker
98. Jeff Slim
97. Beth May
96. Doug Bell
95. Daniel Langhans
94. Nanibaa Beck
93. Nicole Royse
92. Ib Andersen
91. Casandra Hernandez
90. Chris Reed
89. Shelby Maticic
88. Olivia Timmons
87. Courtney Price
86. Travis Mills
85. Catrina Kahler
84. Angel Castro
83. Cole Reed
82. Lisa Albinger
81. Larry Madrigal
80. Julieta Felix
79. Lauren Strohacker
78. Levi Christiansen
77. Thomas Porter
76. Carrie Leigh Hobson
75. Cody Carpenter
74. Jon Jenkins
73. Aurelie Flores
72. Michelle Ponce
71. Devin Fleenor
70. Noelle Martinez
69. Bucky Miller
68. Liliana Gomez
67. Jake Friedman
66. Clarita Lulić
65. Randy Murray
64. Mo Neuharth
63. Jeremy Hamman
62. La Muñeca
61. Kevin Goldman
60. Emily Costello
59. Kerstin Dale
58. Vara Ayanna
57. Nathaniel Lewis
56. Ruben Gonzales
55. Lisa Poje
54. Bobby Zokaites
53. Frances Smith Cohen
52. Julie Rada
51. David Miller
50. Xanthia Walker
49. Kyllan Maney
48. Cary Truelick
47. Constance McBride
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