Laura Domencic started as executive director of Erie Art Museum on Feb. 8 As institution's permanent chief, she succeeds Joshua Helmer, who abruptly left in January 2020 after concerns raised about conduct John Vanco, retired Erie Art Museum executive director, pleased with hiring of Domencic Annual Spring Show, which starts March 19, is her first big event as head of the museum Laura Domencic, the new executive director of the Erie Art Musuem, is a visual artist — a painter and sculptor. But terms more commonly used in the musical arts best describe another area of her expertise. Throughout her career, the 48-year-old Domencic has also acted like a conductor of an orchestra.