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Portland Arts Guild founder dies

Virginia “Gigi” Swanson, the founder of the Portland Arts Guild, died last month in Gresham at age 89.
COURTESY SWANSON FAMILY
Virginia “Gigi” Swanson died Aug. 14 in Gresham at the age of 89. Swanson is remembered in Mid-county as the founder of the Portland Fine Arts Guild. The guild offers painting classes taught by area artists at the Russellville Grange near Parkrose High School.

Swanson was born to German immigrants June 24, 1923 in Portland. She had one younger brother and one older sister. Her mother died when she was twelve, so she assumed the role of parent to her younger brother. While dance and gymnastics were favored pastimes, she abandoned those at age 14 to go to work in support of the family.

Gigi met and married John Swanson in 1943. They had one daughter, Christie, in 1950, and continued to live and work in Portland. John passed away in 1993.

Swanson worked at several jobs including sales, dance instructor, waitress, and caregiver and later she was an art teacher. While working at Sears, she was selected to ride on the company Rose Festival float one year.

She went back to school as an adult and completed her GED and eventually an associate of arts degree. It was in 1969 that she founded the Portland Fine Arts Guild. The guild has now grown to over 1000 members and continues to encourage future artists.

Another lifelong passion was travel. She organized a travel club for seniors and volunteered her services. Her favorite trips included a month in China and three visits to Greece. She also took several cruises to various countries. Her daughter Christie and granddaughter Carolyn were frequent travel companions enjoying trips to the China Sea, the Amazon River, the Caribbean and the Mexican Riviera.

Swanson lived next door to her daughter for 30 years, making family gatherings and game nights a regular part of her routine.

She is survived by her daughter Christie (a 1969 Parkrose High graduate) and son-in-law Larry Clow, of Portland; brother, Danny, of St. Helens; sister, Starlene, of Astoria; two grandchildren, Jacob (PHS 1993) and his wife Sheila Clow, and Carolyn Clow (PHS 1991); and three great-grandchildren, Thalia Clow and Joshua and Silas Struthers.

The family wishes to thank everyone at Pacific Gardens Alzheimer's and Dementia unit where Swanson resided until her death. Their care and concern for her well-being were a huge contribution to her quality of life.

No services were held.
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