Sullivan's Island Winter-Spring 2019-20

11 www.SullivansIslandMagazine.com | www.SullivansIslandHomes.com the Charleston Artist Collective. Her painting “Palmetto State of Mind” will grace the event brochure cover. Several area restaurants and caterers provide their services and food at no charge in exchange for the opportunity to showcase their offerings to potential customers while doing good for the community. Featured purveyors of cuisine at this year’s event include NICO, Cru Catering, Wildflour Pastry, Salthouse and Braised in the South, all of which are returnees. “Some of the homes on tour will be for sale,” Lietzow said. Art on the Beach participation benefits homeowners who want to sell, and their real estate agents, by serving as a well-attended private open house. “Events like Art on the Beach are so much fun,” Lietzow said. “But at the end of the day, it’s really to help fund our mission of bridging the justice gap and providing access to the courts to a segment of the population that’s really been shut out when they don’t have an advocate or voice.” Charleston Pro Bono provides a variety of free civil legal aid services including help with social security disability claims, bankruptcy filings, probate, adoptions, uncontested divorces and disputes with landlords for qualified families. Locally, most tenants involved in eviction proceedings are not represented, which is something the nonprofit aims to change. “Our services are provided at no cost to our clients,” Lietzow said. “We get about 2,000 requests for services Alissa Lietzow, executive director of Charleston Pro Bono, planned the annual tour alongside Maryann Mazurek of The Event Cooperative. Lietzow noted that Art on the Beach has become more successful year after year, selling out sooner and raising more money. In 2019, Charleston Pro Bono hopes to net more than $50,000 from the event. Art on the Beach brings together the legal, arts and culinary communities to raise both funds and awareness for the organization. Lawyers who understand the need for free legal services for low income families provide the majority of event sponsorships. “It’s nice to be able to expand our support base outside the legal field,” Lietzow said. “It’s a symbiotic relationship where everybody’s benefiting in some form or fashion.” Artists apply to participate in Art on the Beach. The benefit to the artist is exposure to up to 500 ticket- holders and an opportunity to sell their work. “We receive far more applications than we have spots for,” Lietzow said. A selection committee curates the art, making sure to include a good mixture of mediums. “We will have fine art, abstract art, woodworking, wire taxidermy, jewelry, purse-making,” she noted. Participating artists pay a 20 percent commission to Charleston Pro Bono on all works sold during the event. Sometimes special commissions result from connections made during the four-hour home tour. The featured artist this year is Janie Ball, a member of “Palmetto State of Mind” by Janie Ball is featured as Art on the Beach’s Poster Art winner. Maryann Mazurek of The Event Cooperative (left) and Charleston Pro Bono Executive Director Alissa Lietzow (right) showcase some artwork in front of a tour home. Danielle Cather-Cohen shows her artwork during Art on the Beach. Photos courtesy of Charleston Pro Bono. Photo courtesy of Alicia Foss Photography. Photo courtesy of Alicia Foss Photography.