Melinda Camber Porter

Melinda Camber Porter (18 September 1953 – 9 October 2008) was a British artist, author, poet, journalist and filmmaker, a modernist who worked in oils, watercolor and ink. She was known for combining the mediums of film, painting and writing.

Her works have been shown at The School of Visual Arts in New York, Oxford University, the Embassy of France, La Maison Francaise and Lincoln Center's Clark Theatre. Her paintings, poetry and films have been critically well received. As a journalist, Porter interviewed renowned writers, artists and filmmakers over several decades for The Times.

Early life and education Melinda Camber was born on 18 September 1953 in London on 2 July 1985 in his native South Dakota, and they honeymooned in China. She based a series of paintings and the novel Floating Boundary on the trip to China. Frequent visits with Flicek's family in South Dakota inspired her novel Badlands. The couple divided their time between Manhattan and Sag Harbor. Porter and Flicek had two sons. After Porter was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, the family took up permanent residence in Sag Harbor for her convalescence. Porter died on 9 October 2008 at the age of 55. She profiled directors Mike Nichols and Ingmar Bergman. A number of these interviews became part of her book, Through Parisian Eyes: Reflections on Contemporary French Arts and Culture. The Art of Love: Paintings and Writings of Melinda Camber Porter (public television program 1994–1998) Recuperation Series – watercolors, oils, poetry A New Cosmology in Modern Art: Melinda Camber Porter (biography on the artist)

Following Porter's death in 2008, her husband Joe Flicek organised an informal advisory committee to help organise and publish her work.

Public exhibitions British Consulate New York – A Retrospective of Ms. Porter's Art and Literature – 2006 School of Visual Arts New York – Because of William Blake a New Art −2006 Paul Labrecque Salons New York – The Art of Horses and Lovers – 2005 Walter Wickiser Gallery New York – The Arousal of Nature – 2005 Art for Healing Gallery New York – The Art of Healing – 2005 Oxford University UK – William Blake Illuminates Ms. Porter's Works (lecture by Robin Hamlyn, Senior curator of prints and drawings for Tate Museum) – 2004 Asia Society and Museum New York – Journey to Benares, a Rock Opera – 2003 Southampton College Southampton, NY – Native America Spirituality – 1999 The Nicolaysen Art Museum Casper WY – Art of Horses and Lovers – 1997 The Sioux Falls Civic Fine Arts Center SD – Badlands, Horses and Lovers – 1996 The Salon Des Artistes New York – The Film Censor's Step-Daughter – 1996 The Foothills Art Center Golden, CO – Badlands, Horses and Lovers – 1996 Lincoln Center New York – Night Angel, a One-Woman Musical – 1996 The West Hartford Art League – Ms. Porter's French Art, Film & Literature – 1995 L'Alliance Française de New Orleans – Ms. Porter's French Art, Film & Literature – 1995 The Embassy of France Washington DC – Ms. Porter's French Art, Film & Literature – 1994 Marcel Carné Paris, 1978. Marguerite Duras Paris, 1975. Eugène Ionesco Oxford, 1974. Roy Lichtenstein Louis Malle Paris, 1975. Andre Malraux Paris, 1975. Eugenio Montale Milan, 1976. Marcel Ophuls Paris, 1977. Octavio Paz Mexico, 1982. Alain Resnais Paris, 1985. Eric Rohmer Paris, 1975. Francoise Sagan Paris, 1978. Jean-Paul Sartre Paris, 1977. Bertrand Tavernier Paris, 1985. François Truffaut Paris, 1975. Roger Vadim Paris, 1975.

Critical praise The New York Times – "The subject of the sensual—what a human being can experience through the physical self and the senses, and the profound effect of that experience is at the heart of Ms. Camber Porter's output as both an artist and writer. . . This painter-novelist draws a line between erotic and obscene". The New York Times – "Sensuality is at the heart of Porter's work. Badlands is a narrative with a weighty sensuality". Boston Sunday Globe – "Through Parisian Eyes is a particularly readable and brilliantly compiled collection. The voices of French intellectuals mingle in this uniquely constructed volume of interviews and commentary". Philadelphia Inquirer – "Through Parisian Eyes is an inviting opportunity to tap into Paris' thinking... thanks to Porter's willingness to listen well and challenge when necessary".