Last week, Tom Hill, Vice-Chairman of Blackstone and CEO of Blackstone Alternative Asset Management, led a tour at the Frick Museum for 8th grade students from Our Lady Queen of Angels School.
In addition to the Frick’s permanent collection, the group explored the “Renaissance and Baroque Bronzes from the Hill Collection” exhibit, featuring thirty-three statuettes that have never before been shown together in a public setting. The bronzes on display are on loan from the personal collection of Hill and his wife Janine, long-time supporters of Our Lady Queen of Angels. During the tour, Hill and senior Frick curator Denise Allen fielded questions from the students and explained the origin of the Frick building, the development of a curated exhibit, and the historical context of the bronzes themselves. The students were also granted access to an installation in progress of completion, receiving the unique opportunity to explore the inner workings of museum administration.
Among other discussion topics, Hill explained how curatorial decisions helped to place the bronzes in conversation with each other and with the paintings hanging throughout the museum. Hill also answered questions about the material process of casting the bronzes and the references to classical mythology present in even minor details on each piece.
“I was honored to share one of New York’s finest cultural institutions with the outstanding students of Our Lady Queen of Angels,” said Hill, who serves as a patron on the school’s Advisory Board. “The students displayed an interest and sensitivity beyond their years, and I look forward to exploring additional opportunities to foster an early engagement with the arts.”
The exhibit is on display at the Frick through June 15, 2014.