(SACRAMENTO, CA) On May 5th, 2012, California Lawyers for the Arts (CLA), a non-profit organization whose mission is to empower the creative community by providing education, representation and dispute resolution, honored six members of the Sacramento Creative arts community at the Fifth Annual Artistic License Awards.
The event was held at the Sierra 2 Center in Sacramento with Piano player Dave Bass providing the music performance for the evening. The event began with a welcome address from Ellen Taylor, CLA Associate Director and David Stone, the Masters of Ceremony. Immediately after, Alma Robinson, CLA Executive Director also gave an introductory remark. She briefly informed the audience of some of the ongoing projects CLA was working on, and thanked the Sacramento CLA team for helping produce the event.
Shortly after Robinson's introductory remarks, the e-legal tag team of TroubleSin & Coon gave a stirring poetry performance. Their topic focused on race and not judging a person by the color of their skin. The audience responded positively to their performance with applause and excitement.
Then it was time for the silent auction as guests were encouraged to participate in the silent auction to bid for great art, jewelry, wines and so much more. After the silent auction, it was time for the presentation of the Artistic License Awards.
The honorees were California Assembly Member Roger Dickson, Artist Milton Bowens, Crocker Art Museum Executive Director Lial Jones, Mediator Susan Orr, Chalk it Up to Sacramento Executive Director Jerry Perry and Founder of Tower Records, Russ Solomon.
Speaking to Ladybrille before the honorees had the following to say on how it felt to be honored:
“What did I do to get into a room full of lawyers,” joked Solomon. “It is nice to know lawyers think of something besides suing people.” He added.
"As a member of the art community, I greatly appreciate what CLA does, especially as it has to do with intellectual property and mediation services," said Lial Jones, Executive Director for Crocker Art Museum.
For Bay area native Milton Bowens, it was an extra icing on the cake. “It is a tremendous honor. Anytime someone especially a California organization recognizes you, it is just humbling and I am a bit more appreciative and humbled."
“It is an honor for me to be recognized by this great organization. It is amazing to me they pay attention to these kinds of things but obviously they do," said Jerry Perry a veteran music promoter with over thirty years experience and commitment promoting local artists.
"It is a surprise who the other honorees are. I felt initially daunted but then I thought how wonderful it is that someone who does what she loves is also honored," said Susan Orr, a Volunteer Case Developer and Mediator for Arts and Arbitration and Mediation Services and the Sacramento Media Center - CLA.
"This is a very special recognition because the arts are a very big part of the quality of life," said Assembly member Roger Dickinson who represents the 9th District. "It is what makes a community complete. It is also very important to me as a lawyer. This organization is reflective of the fact that the law and the art are not mutally exclusive."
CLA wrapped up its Fifth Annual Artistic License Awards with a live auction and concluding remarks from Ellen Taylor and Alma Robinson, among others.
