When Arlene Schnitzer walked into a class at the Museum Art School in 1958, the then 29-year-old wife and mother was just looking for a way to fill an afternoon. What she found, she would later say, was “home.” It was a home that not only transformed Arlene’s life, it was one that also allowed her to transform the lives of countless Pacific Northwest artists and the entire cultural and philanthropic landscape of Portland.

That first art class would soon lead to others, where Arlene heard her instructors and fellow students bemoan the fact that there were no commercial art galleries in Portland where their works could be appreciated, exhibited, and sold. This led Arlene, along with her mother Helen Director and friend Edna Brigham, to open the Fountain Gallery — named for its location near the Skidmore Fountain — in 1961. Throughout its 25-year history, the Fountain Gallery was a vital center for the art community in Portland.

From its beginning, the Fountain Gallery focused on regional artists, with Arlene stating that it “was truly my way of keeping the artists here and living here and being a part of the community.” Intent on introducing art and artists to the broadest possible audience, Arlene hosted exhibitions, gallery talks, poetry readings, dance performances, and charitable benefits. And while she always maintained this focus on regional artists, the gallery was also the scene of special shows of African art, Japanese prints, Indian folk art, and the works of other international artists, many of which had never before been displayed in the Pacific Northwest.

As Arlene’s legacy and the work of Pacific Northwest modern artists is nearly impossible to condense into a single narrative, the Oregon Historical Society (OHS) created a series of exhibitions to share this history. While A Fountain of Creativity: Part I closed in January 2025, Part II is on view at OHS through May 4, 2025, and predominantly covers the years that the Fountain Gallery was in operation and the changes to the Oregon art scene that occurred through the generations of artists that Arlene represented.

The social and political upheavals in the 1960s and 1970s saw artists responding to environmentalism, gender equality, and war in their work. Artists in the region reflected national artistic trends such as pop art, minimalism, and conceptual art, while others continued with abstract expressionism.

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.

Arlene passed away on April 4, 2020, but her influence continues through the lives of the artists she encouraged and supported, through the Harold & Arlene Schnitzer CARE Foundation, and through her son, Jordan, who inherited both her dedication to art and giving back to the community.

Jordan purchased his first painting for $60 from the Fountain Gallery as a 14-year-old in 1965, paying $5 a month out of his allowance. Today, that painting is one of some 22,000 works of art that form the Jordan Schnitzer Family Foundation’s collection, which is regarded as one of the most important post-war and contemporary collections in all mediums.

While today Jordan’s collection includes many of the most important artists nationally and internationally, he followed his parents lead in taking special care to collect and share art by regional artists. Said Jordan of A Fountain of Creativity, “In my opinion, the art and artists in this exhibition could be in any museum nationally and would have the same impact to audiences as this exhibition will for people in the Pacific Northwest.”

Visit A Fountain of Creativity: Part II at the Oregon Historical Society, 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.

For a closer look at the enduring legacy of Arlene Schnitzer, experience a companion exhibition at The Schnitzer Collection featuring a multigenerational group of artists who were part of the Fountain Gallery or deeply influenced by it. A Fountain of Creativity: Part III is on view now through April 12, 2025, at The Schnitzer Collection, located at 3033 NW Yeon Avenue in Portland. Admission is free, and the exhibition is open to the public Tuesday through Friday, from 3pm to 5pm. Educational tours are available by request.