Pearl Swanger:  1918 – 1994

 When Pearl Swanger was in her late teens, she "ran away" for a summer in Provincetown, then a village of Portuguese fishermen, later to become one of America's most-treasured havens for artists. She lived with a loving Portuguese family and came to know the émigré artist Hans Hoffman and the Japanese innovator Kuniyosho, becoming at the same time their favorite model. Under their influence, her passion to paint became the lode-star of her life.

 After spending six years in Nebraska and Iowa as the wife of a school teacher, she came to Morristown, New Jersey in 1944 where she spent the next fifty years of her life. She helped raise three children, while becoming a potent voice in the community for liberal causes and as an art teacher and painter. In addition to studying under local artists like Larry Fearns and James Kearns, she attended classes at NYC's Art Students League and the New School, working under the Soyer brothers, and later at the renowned Arts Institute in San Miguel, Mexico.

 Ms. Swanger taught for several years at the Morris County Art Association and was a nine-year President of that influential organization and Editor of the Association's monthly Newsletter. She was a prolific craftsman, using Morristown itself as well as county lanes and by-ways as her favorite subjects. In addition, her summer home on Long Beach Island, New Jersey offered her rich material for her passion for light and color. Her work relates mostly to the Impressionist School; Cezanne was her favorite artist.

 Every year two scholarships are awarded in Pearl Swanger's memory: one, by the County Association, to a Morris County student showing artistic promise; the other to a member of the Morristown High School graduating class member who has exhibited notable proficiency in some creative area, whether art, literature or music. This second award is sponsored by the Swanger family.

 Her work is handled by several galleries, is in over sixty private collections, has won numerous prizes, and has been purchased by the Morristown School System, several hospitals, and local research and industrial firms.