It's Stars Aboard as Cunard's Queen Mary 2 Presents “Stars For A Cause” – Pop-Art Portraits by Nicolosi Set Sail For Exhibit at 60th Cannes Film Festival

NEW YORK (April 30, 2007) – Today in Brooklyn, a collection of original one-of-a-kind portraits of Hollywood mega-stars painted for the charity fundraiser Stars For A Cause, will board Cunard's flagship Queen Mary 2 along with their creator, pop-artist Nicolosi to begin a European tour with exhibits planned at the 60th Cannes Film Festival and then to London where they will be sold during a worldwide live and online auction in early June.  Auction proceeds to benefit amFAR, Prince's Trust (U.K.) and The Hollywood Museum. 

"As the most iconic British ocean liner company in the world, Cunard Line has long offered the only way to cross the Atlantic for scores of celebrities, royalty and even works of art.  We take great pride in being the ‘Official Liner' transporting the Stars For A Cause portraits to begin their international tour to auction," said Carol Marlow, President of Cunard Line
     
Nicolosi created the portraits of celebrity award nominees and recipients who then began autographing them during interviews with Entertainment Tonight, the #1 syndicated entertainment news program – while on scene at major award shows including the 64th Annual Golden Globe® Awards and the 58th Primetime Emmy® Awards.  Entertainment Tonight will continue to invite celebrities to sign their portrait during the Cannes Film Festival (May 16-27, 2007).  Anticipated participants include George Clooney, Matt Damon, Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt and Mark Wahlberg.
     
"We are always eager to support the charitable as well as professional endeavors of celebrities, so we readily embraced the opportunity to get involved with Stars For A Cause," said Linda Bell Blue, executive producer of Entertainment Tonight and The Insider.   "Nicolosi is one of America's most acclaimed pop artists and he is the ideal choice to create paintings benefiting charities endorsed by the entertainment industry," added Bell Blue.
     
More than sixty portraits of the most famous faces in Hollywood have been completed for the Stars For A Cause campaign including; Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kiefer Sutherland, Charlie Sheen, Helen Mirren, Lisa Kudrow, Meryl Streep, Beyonce, Debra Messing, Patrick Dempsey, Jennifer Hudson, Peter Krause, Sasha Baron Cohen, America Ferrera, Eddie Murphy, Mariska Hargitay, Jack Nicholson, Kyra Sedgwick, Geena Davis, Jon Voight, Steve Carell, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Annette Bening, Conan O'Brien, Tony Shalhoub, Penelope Cruz, Forest Whitaker, Candice Bergen, Edward Norton. 
     
Before the world-famous luxury liner departs New York today with her precious cargo of art, Nicolosi along with Cunard Commodore Bernard Warner and President Carol Marlow, will unveil the newest addition to the Stars For A Cause celebrity collection, a signature Queen Mary 2 portrait, that will serve as the center piece for the exhibit at Century Cannes.  Century Cannes is an exclusive destination venue active during the film festival for dining and parties located at Vegaluna Beach in front of the Carlton Hotel in Cannes, France.
"Nicolosi's vibrant, multi-colored paintings capture the magnetic charisma of Hollywood's most cherished movie and television actors," said Pierre Condou, Founder of Century.  "These remarkable works of art will only add further excitement to the incredible glamour of the 60th Festival De Cannes.  We are also happy to play a role to help raise awareness for the worthy causes that will financially benefit from the Stars For A Cause campaign," added Condou. 

The original Century was founded in 2001 and is now the pre-eminent private members club in London for film, television and creative professionals.  Century Cannes, a vibrant party venue, bar & lounge with the ability to accommodate 500 guests, is located at 61 Bd La Croisette and provides an ideal destination for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  The restaurant seats 150 people and food is served throughout the day.  In the evenings music is provided by internationally renowned DJs and music artists.

Nicolosi (www.popartgalleries.com) creates pop-art portraits of many of today's top entertainment, sports, cultural and political luminaries.

April 30, 2007   Posted in: Cruise Ships