Storytelling at the Frick: My Summer Internship Experience

As a native of Point Breeze (South Lang Avenue, to be exact), when I received the news that I had been accepted as the A.W. Mellon Foundation Fellow at the Frick, I was excited to return to the neighborhood. Growing up, I loved coming to the Frick to see the racecars in the Car and Carriage Museum, and my little brother has since carried on that tradition. I remember, as I grew older, touring Clayton and the art museum when my grandparents came to visit Pittsburgh.

Scootering at the Frick was a favorite activity of mine as a kid. The Frick would like me to tell you that this is frowned upon.

This summer, while working with the department of Learning & Visitor Experience, I was able to see first-hand how the Frick interacts with public audiences through programming that connects with visitors of all ages and demographics to provide them with meaningful learning experiences. In my first few days, in order to familiarize myself with the mission of the L&VE department, I attended gallery talks, toured Clayton, and experienced one of the first public tours of the Car and Carriage Museum to be offered. Prior to these tours, I was told to observe how docents employ storytelling to deepen the connection between an object or a space and visitors.

After about a week, I was acquainted with the site, the permanent collection, and this summer’s traveling exhibition, A Sporting Vision. I had the privilege of being trusted to conduct research for Coffee and Culture lecture programs and docent training for A Sporting Vision. The most intensive segment of my internship came later in the summer, when I helped plan this year’s Wine Walk. I was present at all stages of the planning process, from walking the route and deciding the topics for each stop, to attending logistics meetings and doing research. For one stop, while standing in the shadow of Clayton, we decided it would be interesting to hear about other buildings Frick commissioned around Pittsburgh. 

Two of Frick’s later building projects in downtown Pittsburgh, 1916: (foreground) the William Penn Hotel, designed by Benno Janssen, (background, under construction) the Union Arcade, now the Union Trust Building, designed by Frederick Osterling, who remodeled Clayton from 1981–1892
 

While researching Frick’s buildings, I had to find useful facts to present, but also figure out a way to weave them into a cohesive narrative. I ultimately tied everything into a story about Frick showing his commitment to Pittsburgh by investing in the construction of prominent buildings that still stand today. I also used this information to create an illustrated informational piece to be displayed on iPads in the Grable Visitor Center and in the galleries. The emphasis on storytelling ultimately relates back to creating enriching educational experiences for visitors, a value that L&VE, as well as the rest of the Frick, holds deeply.