Through Her Eyes

Portland, Oregon artist, Betty Chilstrom, "Painted the Town" during the second half of the 20th century. The character of a city is made up of many things, including its history and neighborhood vitality. Living through the great depression, homeless throughout her childhood, Betty had a keen appreciation for the value of a Home Place, and Portland became her permanent home during World War II.  Living in the same Buckman neighborhood home for seventy years, she spent 40 years chronicling Portland's historic homes, architecture, and cityscapes, before urban renewal swept them away. Told by her youngest daughter, artist Robin Chilstrom, this is the story of Betty's life, her evolution as a self-taught artist, and how she came to create the stunning and prolific archive of over 250 paintings and drawings contained in this book, during her Love Affair with the City.