Ariege Arseguel, former Sonoma County Museum director, dies at 49

<p>During her three-year tenure as executive director of the Sonoma County Museum, Ariege Sarah Arseguel raised the museum's public profile with lively fund-raising events, expanded education programs and a new emphasis on contemporary art.</p><p>Arseguel died Sunday at her Sebastopol home after a six-year battle with cancer. She was 49.</p><p>“Her illness didn't define her,” said John Sappington, her husband of 13 years. “She was very alive, and such a fighter.”</p><p>Born Feb. 22, 1962, in San Francisco, Arseguel was named after her ancestors' home region in the Pyrenees mountains of France.</p><p>She grew up in San Francisco and Sebastopol, attending the French American International School and El Molino High School.</p><p>After receiving a bachelor's degree in humanities from UC Berkeley and a master's degree in arts management from San Francisco State University, she worked for the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. She went on to serve as assistant director of communications and alumni relations director at the San Francisco Art Institute.</p><p>In 2002, Arseguel joined the Sonoma County Museum as director of advancement and community relations, then succeeded Nastasha Boas as executive director in 2004.</p><p>At that time, fund-raising for museum expansion had slowed, and Arseguel launched street parties and galas to raise money.</p><p>“She brought in a new curator and we had a phase of interesting new exhibits. The museum took on cultural themes, such as eating locally produced food, during her tenure,” said Lindsay Austin, chairman of the museum's board of directors.</p><p>Under Arseguel's leadership, the museum merged in 2005 with the former Museum of Contemporary Art, which had been located at the Wells Fargo Center for the Arts. As a result, the Sonoma County Museum featured new work by current artists in its Contemporary Project Space.</p><p>“Ariege brought a much stronger connection to artists and art collectors,” said former museum board chairman Bill Knight. “The museum had started with a strong focus on history. She changed the museum's direction toward more contemporary art.”</p><p>Arseguel left her post in 2007 to focus on treatment for her breast cancer, but remained active in the community. She worked as an art appraiser and raised funds for the Sebastopol Education Foundation.</p><p>In addition to her husband, she is survived by their children, Stella Ariege Sappington, 12, and Hugo Arseguel Sappington, 9; her mother, Mimi Oliven; and brothers Sebastien Arseguel and Benjamin Arseguel.</p><p>A celebration of Arseguel's life will be held from 2 to 6 p.m. on June 12 at 12176 Occidental Road, Sebastopol. RSVP at 874-9786.</p><p>-- Dan Taylor</p>