(Washington, D.C., May 16, 2001) Senator Hillary Clinton joined friends and fellow Yale Law School alumni at an art opening for well-known attorney-turned-artist Joan B. Tumpson at Reed Smith's Washington, D.C. office last night. Partners Judy Harris and Martha Munsch hosted the exhibit and reception for Tumpson. The three women graduated law school with the former first lady (Yale, Class of 1973). The event, co-sponsored by the Yale Law School Association of the District of Columbia, brought alumni from around the area together, providing old friends an opportunity to see Tumpson's work and to catch up with their classmate, the Senator.
Tumpson's oil and pastel paintings will be featured in a private exhibit at Reed Smith and will be on display through June 30.
A representational colorist, Tumpson expresses herself through the bold and confident use of color. A portion of the proceeds from the sale will be donated to support the Yale Law School Women’s History project. This Project examines the history of women at Yale Law School in the context of the history of women in legal education and the legal profession in the U.S. It has focused on primary sources, including interviews and oral recordings with Yale Law School graduates, faculty and administrators. The Project has recorded interviews with the School’s first female faculty and other faculty who have taught courses substantively related to women.
Tumpson practiced business and banking law for almost twenty years before deciding to devote full time to painting. She was an associate attorney with Debevoise & Plimpton in New York, as well as with Sage Gray Todd & Sims in Miami, before founding her own firm. In 1992, she began her painting career, although she has retained membership in the New York, Ohio and Florida bars. Beginning her formal study of art as a child, Tumpson studied drawing at Yale even as she completed her law degree. She continued her art studies at the University of Miami Art School and Miami-Dade Community College. Tumpson has won numerous awards in juried art competitions nationwide. Her most recent exhibits include "Fables and Lies" at The Bricknell Gallery, Miami and "Time and Motion" at the Dade Cultural Resource Center, Miami. Her works presently hang in the collections of Metrobank, Miami; Deloitte & Touche, Miami; Jacqueline Simkin, Miami; Frank Cummings and Karen Kellow, Chicago; Fredric D. Schuh, Charleston, SC.; Helen Hill Roundtree, New York City; James A. Hennefer, San Francisco; George M. Fleming & Associates, Houston; and the Honorable Ann Richards, Austin, Texas.
About Reed Smith
Reed Smith, a leading global law firm with more than 650 lawyers located in 12 U.S. and 2 U.K. cities, represents Fortune 100 as well as mid-market and emerging companies. Clients include technology companies and entrepreneurs, financial services firms, health care providers and insurers, communications companies, manufacturers, universities, non-profit organizations, real estate developers, and municipalities throughout the United States and in 40 countries. For more information, visit www.reedsmith.com.