A memorial gathering will be held at 1 p.m., Sunday,
Nov. 20, at Fairfax Community Church, for former Walnut Place senior
housing resident Marge Salin, 83, who died Tuesday, Oct. 25, in Charlottesville,
Virginia, of natural causes. Mrs. Salin lived in Point Reyes Station
for a year or two in the late 90s.
A poet, cartoonist, photographer and filmmaker, Mrs.
Salin was an early member of the Beat Movement in San Francisco’s
North Beach. Her cartoons documented countless Bay Area art and cultural
events.
Gallery founder
A longtime San Rafael resident, Mrs. Salin was the
first director of the Marin Society of Artists. She was an early organizer
of the Sausalito Arts Festival, and in 1970 founded the Bull’s
Eye Gallery in San Anselmo, a free art space and music venue for emerging
artists.
Born in San Francisco on Aug. 18, 1922, young Marjorie
Gross graduated from UC Berkeley in 1945 with a degree in cultural anthropology.
Three years later she married Lothar Salin, a printer who worked for
the formation of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and Point
Reyes National Seashore. The couple had five children together and divorced
in 1972. Mrs. Salin later married longtime friend Alexander Anderson,
who died in 1993, but kept her children’s last name.
Published poet
Mrs. Salin’s poems appeared in many anthologies,
and in 1985 she published the first of her four poetry collections with
the title, I was a Hobohemian Dilettante.
Gregarious and outgoing, Mrs. Salin was a free spirit
remembered by her family as, "a true character and cultural visionary."
A hurricane of energy, few could keep up with her. Into her 80s, and
nearly blind, she hitchhiked around the Bay Area attending art and literary
events.
In West Marin Mrs. Salin was a patron of Dance Palace
programs. She talked with anyone and everyone on the streets of Point
Reyes Station, walking along with her cane or shopping cart. She was
kind to strangers and befriended stray souls.
In addition to her second husband, Mrs. Salin was
predeceased by her sons, Philip K. Salin; and Tony Salin.
She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Patricia
Salin Huston and Michael Huston of Crozet, Virginia; sons, Douglas Salin
of San Francisco; Sierra Salin of Lagunitas; daughter-in-law, Gayle
Pergamit of Menlo Park; brother, David Gross of Palm Desert, Riverside
County; and seven grandchildren.
Family members suggest that any memorial contributions
be made to the Book Club of California; the Ina Coolbrith Circle; or
the American Red Cross.