Celebration of life
Humboldt Arts Council invites the community to remember Sally Arnot
A community “celebration of life” will be held Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. to honor the legacy Sally Arnot created through all of her years of dedication to the Humboldt Arts Council. Everyone is invited to join the council’s board and staff at the Morris Graves Museum of Art, 636 F St. in Eureka.
This celebration is an all-day event to prevent a large gathering, and all current state and county COVID-19 guidelines will be followed to ensure the safety of everyone attending.
The Humboldt Arts Council staff and board are mourning the woman credited with the title “Cheerleader for the Arts” as well as a central figure in the restoration and renovation of the Historic Carnegie Library into the Morris Graves Museum of Art. Arnot died on Sept. 15 in Lake Oswego, Oregon.
Arnot was an emeritus board member and a past president of the Humboldt Arts Council. She had been directly involved in the Humboldt County arts scene since the late 1960s. She was also a founding member of the Humboldt Docent Council, which continues to provide art education in local schools to this day. She also served one term on the California Arts Council beginning in 1987.
“She was a great friend and a major figure in the Humboldt County art world,” said Jemima Harr, executive director-curator, who met Arnot in 2004.
Describing Arnot as “charming, hardworking, intelligent and classy,” Harr said she will miss their friendship.
“I am so fortunate to have worked side by side with Sally for the past 17 years,” Harr said. “I came to the Humboldt Arts Council with a background in museum exhibitions and collections. … Sally took me under her wing and taught me all anyone would ever need to know about the rich history of local arts, museum administration and fundraising. Regarding fundraising, one of my favorite things she always said was, ‘If you don’t ask, you won’t receive,’ and that is why Humboldt County is so fortunate to have the Morris Graves Museum of Art, because Sally asked!
Over the years she became not only my mentor, but part of my family and my best friend. The legacy Sally has left us all is incredible and the Humboldt Arts Council and the Morris Graves Museum of Art will continue to honor her legacy by encouraging and supporting the arts and artists of the North Coast.”
Memorial contributions can be made to the Humboldt Arts Council, according to her obituary.