Volunteer Lawyers For The Arts
Design a Postcard

We laugh at the lawyer jokes, but when we really examine who lawyers are, they tend to be people who genuinely want to help preserve the rights of the people. Cleveland’s rich legal history lends itself to more than average the number of lawyers—you probably know one, maybe even intimately. They may not be laborers, but they support the working class. They may not be artists, but they support the arts.

Cleveland’s lawyers are always reaching out to the community in ways that go beyond the court room. The Legal Aid Society, an organization that provides low-cost services to those in need, helps abuse victims obtain protective orders and keeps mothers and children in their homes. Law firms sponsor Habitat for Humanity homes and go forth to hang drywall and tack up siding. Lawyers attend many fund-raising charitable events, and they don’t pay the big bucks just for the food—they care about the cause supported by the benefit.

The Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association (http://www.clemetrobar.org) holds a number of charitable events each year through the Cleveland Bar Foundation, a nonprofit corporation that supports numerous causes. The CMBA works with the homeless through the Cleveland Homeless Legal Assistance Program. It helps Cleveland’s youth through the 3Rs Program to help improve passage rates on the Ohio Graduation Test. Law Day activities reach out to the community each May.

The arts are supported by attorney patronage of the Art Museum, the Cleveland Opera, and Playhouse Square musical and theatrical performances. The CMBA goes further with its support by helping artists in need. The Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts Committee of the CMBA provides legal assistance and education to income-eligible artists and arts organizations throughout the area. Whether artists are in need of health insurance or negotiation of a lease, the VLA reaches out to artists to provide the services and support they need.  For example, when a mother/daughter team did some mural work in a private house and had trouble getting paid for their work, they applied and were approved for pro bono assistance.   An attorney was able to resolve the matter for them without going to court.

Artists now have the opportunity to help out the VLA by designing postcards that will be used to advertise the VLA to other artists.  Each year, the VLA selects a new, fresh, image for its post cards available at the CMBA’s offices on the second floor of the Galleria. The 2009 postcard was designed by local graphic designer Nan Wiggins.  It shows a close-up of pinstriped suit lapels surrounding a yellow tie emblazoned with a paint palette with a hand crossing the tie to show off a VLA button on one of the lapels. Artists can submit their work for the Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts Annual Postcard Design Contest (http://www.vlany.org/legalservices/vladirectory.php) between now and October 1, which isn’t a lot of time, but artists, like writers, often work best under pressure.  

The winning Northeast Ohio artist is awarded a $500 commission. Submissions of camera-ready digital images are accepted year round.  To be considered for the 2010 postcard, submit your work by October 1, 2009.  All you need to do is submit your name, address, phone number and email address, title of submission with medium, form of submission, a digital file of your artwork, and an optional short biography to: Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts Committee, Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, 1301 E. Ninth St. Second Level, Cleveland, OH 44114, or e-mail mgroth@clemetrobar.org.

Claudia Taller

From Cool Cleveland contributor Claudia Taller, whose passion for words has led to creation of the Lakeside Word Lover’s Retreats, an outgrowth of her work with Skyline Writers. Her favorite foods are red wine, salmon, ice cream, and chocolate. She loves to read, write, tour wineries, ride her bike, ease into yoga, and cook gourmet meals for friends. Find her at http://www.claudiatallermusings.blogspot.com.

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