BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (ENTERTAINMENT WIRE) - A PLATEFUL: Stepping up to the plate on behalf of Barbara Davis's star-studded October 28th Carousel of Hope in Beverly Hills to benefit children's diabetes are a feast of "celebrity artists" who have painted plates for the gala's silent auction.
Thirty-two of the plates go on exhibit for the public to see at Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman-Marcus in Beverly Hills beginning Monday and remain on display through the 28th.
Among the creators are Antonio Banderas, who's designed a blue and white checkered plate, Courtney Love and her daughter Frances, George Clooney offering a self-portrait, Melanie Griffith, Michael Jackson, Sir Michael Caine, Nicolas Cage, Angela Bassett and even Jack Nicholson.
Also adding their artistic flair to plates are Whoopi Goldberg, artist Robert Graham and his significant other, Anjelica Huston, actor Sidney Poitier, Salma Hayek, Billy-Bob Thornton and Courteney Cox.
More than 50 "star brushmeisters" in all.
Arts and crafts retail chain Color Me Mine is providing the plates, brushes and oven firings under tight security as the celebrity-decorated plates are considered to be "priceless."
Long known for its spectacular auction items which help make this event the world's single largest evening of charity fund-raising, the Carousel of Hope, to be held this year at Merv Griffin's Beverly Hilton Hotel and starring Ricky Martin, with President Clinton in attendance, has raised nearly $50 million since its creation two decades ago by Mrs. Davis and her husband Marvin.
Despite an impressive line-up of celebrity plate designers, Mrs. Davis hopes to add even more stars to her plateful of contributors prior to setting the table for the next lavish edition of the Carousel of Hope in the fall.
Contact: The Lee Solters Co. Lee Solters/Jerry Digney, 323/651-9300 or Bragman Nyman Cafarelli Brooke Primero/Susan Dubow, 310/274-7800 or RHM Media Rita Hollingsworth, 323/934-9651
