DOWNLOAD PRESS KIT: https://bit.ly/fountainofcreativity 

Portland, OR — October 29, 2024 — Discover the history behind Oregon’s vibrant art scene through the original exhibition A Fountain of Creativity: Oregon’s 20th Century Artists and the Legacy of Arlene Schnitzer. Currently on view at the Oregon Historical Society in downtown Portland, the exhibition expands on November 1 with new works by artists who worked closely with Schnitzer during the Fountain Gallery’s 25 years in business. Additional works will also be on display at The Schnitzer Collection exhibition space from November 1, 2024, through April 15, 2025, featuring contemporary artists with ties to the Fountain Gallery.

As a gallery owner, art collector, and philanthropist, Arlene Schnitzer shared her love of Pacific Northwest art with the world. Through the Fountain Gallery, Schnitzer provided crucial commercial gallery space at a time when there was little available in the Portland area. Schnitzer, along with her mother Helen Director and friend Edna Brigham, opened the gallery in 1961 and continued to run the gallery until it closed in 1986. Her commitment to Pacific Northwest artists continued throughout the run of the gallery, with a roster of notable names including Louis Bunce, Michele Russo, Carl Morris, Hilda Morris, and Robert Colescott.

Schnitzer’s work as director of the gallery was more than commercial — she deeply supported the artists represented by the gallery. As stated by Schnitzer, “I want the young, serious, good artist coming up to know that there is a place here he can show. He doesn’t have to run away. I want him to stay in this community. I want it to be a vital community, and a community can’t be vital without the arts.”

Arlene’s dedication to the arts went far beyond the Fountain Gallery; she continued to support regional artists for the rest of her life. As an art collector, along with her husband Harold Schnitzer, the pair amassed a collection of over 2,000 artworks. 

Honoring Arlene’s influence on the history of Portland, A Fountain of Creativity includes a range of bold, evocative, and influential works created by Pacific Northwest artists from the Collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer and His Family Foundation — many of which are on public display for the first time. 

This love and dedication to the arts and artists was passed on to Arlene’s son, Jordan Schnitzer, a prolific collector in his own right. Jordan Schnitzer purchased his first work of art when he was 14 years old. It was through Arlene Schnitzer and the Fountain Gallery that his initial acquisition turned into a lifelong pursuit to collect, share, and promote the visual arts. Jordan Schnitzer is now recognized as one of the Top 200 Collectors globally (ARTnews). His collection, consisting of more than 22,000 works, functions as a living archive to preserve art for future generations and share it with the public through groundbreaking exhibitions, publications, and programs.

“I’m happy that the Oregon Historical Society wanted to share my mother’s legacy with old friends and many new citizens,” said collector, philanthropist, and son of Arlene Schnitzer, Jordan D. Schnitzer. “Focusing on my late mother Arlene Schnitzer’s Fountain Gallery — the first contemporary art gallery in Portland — these artists’ voices, embodied in their art, inspire us, challenge us, and tell the story of contemporary art in our community.”

A Fountain of Creativity Parts 1 and 2 are on view at the Oregon Historical Society from June 28, 2024, through January 2, 2025 (Part 1) and November 1, 2024, through May 4, 2025 (Part 2). The Oregon Historical Society’s museum is open daily in downtown Portland, from 10am to 5pm Monday through Saturday and 12pm to 5pm on Sunday. Admission is free every day for youth 17 and under, OHS members, and residents of Multnomah County. Learn more and plan your visit at ohs.org/visit.

Part 3 is on view November 1, 2024, through April 15, 2025, at The Schnitzer Collection exhibition space located at 3033 NW Yeon Avenue in Portland. Admission to The Schnitzer Collection exhibition space is free, and public viewing hours are Tuesday through Friday from 3pm to 5pm. Educational tours are available upon request; please use this online form to schedule your tour.

About the Oregon Historical Society

For 125 years, the Oregon Historical Society has served as the state’s collective memory, preserving a vast collection of objects, photographs, maps, manuscript materials, books, films, and oral histories. Our research library, museum, digital platforms, educational programming, and historical journal make Oregon’s history open and accessible to all.We exist because history is powerful, and because a history as deep and rich as Oregon’s cannot be contained within a single story or point of view. 

About the Jordan Schnitzer Family Foundation

The Jordan Schnitzer Family Foundation, established in 1997, is renowned for preserving art and engaging the public through exhibitions, publications, and programs. Founded by ARTnews Top 200 Collector Jordan D. Schnitzer, whose passion for art began in his mother’s Portland gallery, the Foundation has curated over 180 exhibitions and loaned thousands of artworks to 120+ museums. It introduces major artists like Jeffrey Gibson and Andy Warhol to regional museums and supports their exhibitions. Schnitzer’s collection, with over 22,000 works, includes prints, sculptures, and paintings, offering comprehensive insights into artists’ careers. Recognized globally, Schnitzer is known for making his collection widely accessible, earning him the title “The People’s Collector.” Through these efforts, the Foundation preserves art for future generations and enriches communities.