Never too late to become a student

“Her energy and dedication to her work are an inspiration to all of us. It shows that it’s never too late to study or to pursue whatever you want to do with your life,” says Selene Muscianese, exchange student from Italy.

After completing her undergraduate degree, Judith Porter (78) is now in the second year of her Fine Art MFA at York St John University in the UK.

She also invested in a one-month art residency in Finland. This experience inspired her to apply for a full semester abroad at UiA.

“I wanted to get out of my comfort zone, experience a new way of life, and see art through the lens of a different culture,” she says.

A life shaped by responsibility

Porter’s path to higher education was far from conventional. At just 15 years old, she left school to assist her family in running their hotel and catering business.

When both of her parents passed away unexpectedly, Porter, one of eight siblings, inherited the responsibility of managing the family business, which employed 35 staff members.

By then, Porter was already married and had accumulated substantial work experience. She successfully ran the business before eventually selling it and moving on to other ventures, including converting two barns with her spouse.

A lifelong interest for art

After her husband’s passing, Porter sought activities to fill the void in her life. She began cycling with a friend and embarked on several biking trips across Europe. However, she found these pursuits weren’t enough.

“Cycling and playing golf filled a gap, but it wasn’t enough for me,” she says.

Her interest in the arts, however, had always been a constant. Over the years, she had taken evening classes in china painting, basket weaving, and flower arranging. But other commitments had always kept her from delving deeper into the field.

Taking the leap

Later in life, Porter finally decided to act on her artistic ambitions. She enrolled in an Art Foundation course at Scarborough, where she earned a distinction. Encouraged by her tutors, she applied to York St John University to study Fine Art.

Having never taken an exam in her life, Porter felt this was her chance to prove something to herself.

“This was my way of proving to myself I could do it,” she explains.

Nature as a source of inspiration

During her time at UiA, Porter has focused her studies on fractal patterns in nature and their connections to the brain’s structure.

“I believe there may be parallels between the structure of neurons and the branching patterns of leaves, as both use fractal patterns to maximise efficiency – whether it’s sap in the branches or information in the brain,” she says.

She has been experimenting with various mediums, including clay and lino printing, taking advantage of the facilities at UiA’s Faculty of Fine Arts.

“I love the workshops at the faculty, whether it’s wood, clay, or printing. Having such modern facilities and the freedom to work within those spaces is invaluable for an art student,” she says.

Porter has also written a poem about Jegersberg, the forest near Campus Kristiansand (see below). 

Connecting with others

When she isn’t studying or working on her art projects, Porter enjoys hiking in the woods, visiting art galleries in the city, and catching up with colleagues over coffee or lunch.

“We met during a printmaking course and have been collaborating ever since, exchanging knowledge and ideas. I’ve also had the chance to show her around a bit and discuss cultural differences, as someone who’s also from another country but has been living here since 2011,” says Franciszek Piasecki, a fellow Fine Arts master’s student at UiA.

One of the other places she likes to hang out at is the Global Lounge.

“Judith comes by regularly for a chat. She’s very passionate about her work, and it’s always a pleasure to hear about her projects,” says Darragh Donnellan, intern at the Global Lounge at UiA.

Porter has also embraced the community spirit by volunteering to make waffles during ‘Waffle Hour,’ a weekly event for students in the staff cafeteria.

A memorable experience

As her time in Norway draws to a close, with her bags nearly packed and a busy holiday season ahead, Porter reflects on her experience.

“I’ve enjoyed the culture, meeting new people, the freedom to experiment in the workshops, and even the rain – because it’s not as cold as in the UK!” she says.

Porter encourages other students to seize the opportunity to study abroad.

“Go for it. You’ll get all the help you need,” she says.

Looking to the future, Porter is unsure of her next steps but hasn’t ruled out the possibility of pursuing a PhD.

“It’s the amount of words and pages that scares me, really!” she says.