Erin started in her new role as the tenth Executive Director of The Rockwell Museum on January 6.
With decades of experience as a museum leader, curator, educator, and arts advocate, Coe brings a wealth of expertise and vision to The Rockwell as it advances its position as a destination and community resource for American art and culture. In case you missed it, you can find or more about Erin’s background and experience at this previous blog post!
There will be many opportunities for the public and Rockwell Members to get to know Erin in person at this season’s events and programs, including the Color! Lecture series, live music, and gallery talks. In the meantime, this brief interview offers some insight into Erin as both a museum leader and your new neighbor!
What drew you to The Rockwell Museum? What made it stand out to you as an exciting opportunity?
From the moment you enter the doors of The Rockwell Museum there is a palpable sense of engagement and momentum. The staff impressed me as energetic, talented, and deeply committed to the Museum’s mission. The members of the Board of Trustees are likewise dedicated and enthusiastic about The Rockwell and its future. More than twenty-five years ago the museum historian and theorist Stephen Weil proposed that museums center “people not things.” A quarter of a century later, museums at large are still grappling with this shift in priorities; yet, The Rockwell Museum is laser focused on people and it’s this hyperlocal culture that made the museum such an appealing prospect to me as a candidate. Now that I’m here, these vital first impressions are proving to be true.

What is your familiarity with Corning and the region?
For starters I lived in the Capital Region and North Country of New York State (Albany, Glens Falls, and Lake George) for twenty years. Also, since living in central Pennsylvania for the past seven and a half years, my husband and I have discovered the beauty and tranquility of the Finger Lakes region. We have enjoyed annual stays on both Seneca and Keuka Lake. I have family in the Syracuse and Rochester area, so returning to New York is a lot like coming home.
When I’m not working, I enjoy going for long walks, biking rail trials, and I’m an avid knitter and dedicated yoga practitioner. Corning is the perfect place to enjoy these activities with its strong wellness community, bucolic surroundings, proximity to the Finger Lakes and its wineries, as well as two yarn shops right on Market Street! I’m in my happy place!
My husband of sixteen years, Doug, and our four-legged canine companion Hudson, have recently relocated to Corning with me, and we are so eager to get out and explore the area.
Do you have a favorite work of art in the Rockwell collection, as of yet?
It’s a bit early to have a “favorite” but as an American art historian, the nineteenth century landscape paintings are quite appealing to me. I am impressed to see the number of woman artists represented especially Julie Hart Beers, Eliza Pratt Greatorex, and Susan Waters.

During my tenure at the Palmer Museum of Art at Penn State, I developed a strong interest in contemporary art, especially works by underrepresented artists. The Palmer Museum has an outstanding, large-scale mixed media work by Jaune Quick-to-See Smith, so I was thrilled to see NDN (for life) in The Rockwell’s collection, which is even more meaningful with the recent news of the passing of this pioneering artist. And I have featured the work of Penn State alumnus Devan Shimoyama at the Palmer. Not long before coming to Rockwell, I hosted Devan at the museum for a lecture on his work. He discussed his iconic Tarot Series, and the mixed media work Le Mat (The Fool) that is now part of The Rockwell’s collection. That said, I am delighted with the number of synergies between my areas of specialty and the Museum’s collection, as well as some new surprises and the opportunities for growth.

The Rockwell’s annual theme is Color! Does that mean anything special to you since it is coinciding with your inaugural year at the Museum?
Aside from celebrating milestones such as golden anniversaries or inaugurating a new building, this is the first museum I’ve worked for that has a designated annual theme. The theme of color coinciding with my inaugural year feels right. To me, color represents diversity, expression, and metaphorically and culturally speaking, color is universal. As the new leader of The Rockwell, I’m signaling the next chapter in the storied history of the Museum that will be defined by building on the institution’s strengths, including advancing diversity, accessibility, and belonging in all its forms. At times our direction will be exciting and exuberant, and at others it will be calm and deliberate. For me, leadership is about setting the tone and shading it with tints of collaboration, inspiration, tradition, innovation, and change. My goal is to optimize these leadership “colors” to create a rainbow effect for The Rockwell Museum, our staff, stakeholders, and the community we proudly serve.
What are some of your first priorities in your new position?
First and foremost, I am taking time to learn the culture of the Museum as well as becoming acquainted with members of the Corning community. I am currently conducting a series of “listening sessions,” meeting with each staff member and the members of the Board of Trustees. These chats are guided by a series of questions to prompt an informed conversation that allows me to better understand the culture of the museum and the areas that need to be improved and prioritized. These conversations are helping me to identify common themes across the organization, to define what success looks like in each area and identify a path forward, with the added benefit of feeding into strategic planning. At the same time, I am meeting with members of the community, donors, and stakeholder groups, and have already made a couple of public appearances. Here too, my focus is on active listening and strengthening relationships with all our wonderful partners while forging new ones.

Are you ready to share a bit about your vision for The Rockwell?
It’s early in my tenure but my vision for The Rockwell Museum will be defined by collaboration, clarity, and community. It will also be focused on strategies for both sustaining and growing the Museum, so it is set up for greater impact and success as it enters the next fifty years of service to the Corning community, the Southern Tier region, and beyond. I envision a bright future for The Rockwell Museum and look forward to getting started.