OUR HISTORY & FOUNDERS
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Peggy, Tim, and Kay shared an intention to support artists and to connect them with the art loving community. They merged their talents and resources together in 1993 to plan and found Marin Open Studios. They turned over the Event to the Marin Art Council (MAC) in 1996, who produced it successfully under Executive Director Jeanne Bogardus until 2011, when MAC dissolved.
In 2012, Carlson helped rally a grassroots committee with founder Peggy Haas’ invaluable support, and turned MOS into a non-profit under the leadership of Chairman Bob Amos and a strong Board.
Unfortunately, Tim passed away in 2005. Peggy’s philanthropy has helped to create the Event that reflects the unique creativity of Marin for 32 years.
PEGGY HAAS
Peggy Haas has been active in theatre since she was eight years old. She has acted, directed and produced in both the US and Europe, and enjoys hamming it up for Children’s Theatre of San Francisco, an 87-year-old non-profit organization that gives 6-8,000 schoolchildren their first live theatre experience.
Peggy is the generous Philanthropist responsible for restoring the Presidio Theatre, and gifting it to SF. She funded the theater’s two-year renovation, making innovative design decisions at the architectural jewel in the Presidio. Peggy has always loved the Panto genre of theatre and the magic and laughter it brings. A variety of performances reflect a rich diversity and encourages artists to grow and flourish. Her creativity has helped support Marin Open Studios since the founding.
KAY CARLSON
Kay Carlson is a California Colorist landscape painter who attended the San Francisco Art Institute and was also was an assistant director in a San Francisco Gallery. She received a BA in English from the University of Wisconsin. Carlson was Tim’s neighbor at the Sausalito Industrial Center Building (ICB), and as fellow artists, they produced the first years of MOS with Peggy’s founding support. They handed MOS over to The Marin Art Council in 1997, and it continued until 2011. Carlson began producing MOS again In 2012 with a grassroots committee which turned MOS into a non-profit. She became executive director with a strong Board, volunteers, and hundreds of artists. She will step down in 2025 to pursue her art career at her studio in the Sausalito Industrial Center Building.
TIM ROSE
Tim Rose was a longtime Sausalito resident, whose three-dimensional mobiles made from sheet metal, plywood, and wire have graced colleges, office buildings and galleries nationwide. He helped develop the artistic focus of the Sausalito Art Festival as co chairman in the mid-60’s,
Rose worked out of the Sausalito Industrial Center Building (ICB), established an open studio for that vibrant arts colony now in its 63rd year, and went on to co-found Marin Open Studios with fellow ICB artist Kay Carlson and Philanthropist Peggy Haas in 1993.
Later, Tim moved to and also founded the Coal Shed Studios on Mare Island when his work became much larger. He wanted all artists to work together to make an art scene in Marin that was viable and self- sustaining. That’s been a theme throughout his life and career, helping artists to help themselves.
