The Director of the Hyde Collection in Glens Falls is stepping down from his post in May. Charles Guerin, who is moving to a new position in Delware, guided the small museum and helped secure significant additions to its permanent collection.
After two years, Guerin is stepping down May 1st for a new job as Executive Director of the Biggs Museum of American Art in Dover, Delaware.
Guerin said after visiting the Biggs Museum and its staff he was excited about the opportunity.
“It’s an incredibly interesting museum that is in a wonderful period in its history where its ready to leap forward, and they were interested in having me, and we sort of came to a mutual agreement. It was not something I was really looking for, but it sort of became available, and one thing led to another and here we are.”
Guerin has an extensive history in the arts. From 2000 to 2012, he served as executive director of the University of Arizona Museum of Art. He also was executive director of the University of Wyoming Art Museum in Laramie from 1986-2000 and served as Commissioner of Wyoming State Parks and Cultural Resources from 1998-2000.
Guerin said after growing up in the Rocky Mountains, he fell in love with the Adirondacks while at the Hyde. He said the decision to leave was a difficult one.
“I love the environment, I love this community, it’s a very generous community. People are wonderful. I made the point when I got within the first couple months, saying to people, ‘You know, people here aren’t grumpy. People love being here. And everyone is friendly and nice.’ And I really will miss that and I hope it will be equally congenial in Delaware.”
The move will also allow Guerin to move closer to his family in Maryland.
Tenée Rehm Casaccio, chair of The Hyde’s Board of Trustees, said in a statement, ‘We are grateful to Charles for his leadership and service, and we wish the Guerins all the best as they embark on new adventures.’
During his time at the Hyde, Guerin helped secure two major additions to the museum’s permanent collection: a large collection of French etchings, engravings, and lithographs, some of which is currently on display, and a collection of American photography donated by ABC News journalist George Stephanopolous, which is to be presented later this month.
Peter Aust, President of the Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce, said in two short years, Guerin made a significant impact on the arts and cultural sector of Upstate New York.
“And his announcement that he’s moving on is sad to all of us because at the end of the day, Charles is one of those leaders you really enjoyed working with and you enjoyed his vision because he had such vision for the art community and what the Hyde Collection could mean to the entire regional culture that we have in this upstate region, and added so much to that fabric of art and culture to the Glens Falls area.”
As for the future of the museum, Guerin said he’s confident the institution will find another capable director to keep moving the Hyde forward.
“This institution has been here for 50 years, it’s had a great history of having very, very strong directors and curators on its staff. Because of the quality of its collections, it has been particularly good at attracting good talent to its staff, and I have no reason to think it won’t attract another really wonderful director for this institution,” said Guerin.
