Sallie Maron’s leadership and commitment to the arts and humanities has made her, undoubtedly, a “Cultural Champion” on Bainbridge Island where she got her family settled in 1984. Her work on the Library Board and the creation of The Marge Williams Center are examples of her early efforts to raise awareness of historically and culturally important preservation issues. These led to her taking on leadership roles in both the Bainbridge Island Land Trust and Sustainable Bainbridge. She encouraged Islanders to imagine possibilities and work together to support a number of public/private purchases of land, including what is now Pritchard Park. She played a vital role, as Chair of the Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial Association, in creating the impressive memorial honoring the 272 Islanders who were the first to be imprisoned by an unconstitutional order of our government in 1942.
Most recently, as Board President of the Bainbridge Island Artisans Resource Network, Sallie worked to make possible the opening of that vibrant art center, which offers a multitude of opportunities for enriching creativity and talent in a wide variety of media. BARN not only provides much needed studio space and access to equipment, but also provides a very important link between generations as a place for artists and craftspeople to pass on their knowledge and skills to future generations.
Listen to Bainbridge Community Broadcasting’s interview with Sallie Maron: