DC Entertainment Launches National Art Exhibition to Benefit We Can Be Heroes Giving Campaign

BURBANK, Calif., June 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- DC Entertainment announced the official launch of the Darkness & Light: Art Inspired by Heroes & Villains, Hope & Heroism exhibition, a one-of-a-kind art and education tour to raise awareness and funds for the hunger crisis in the Horn of Africa. Darkness & Light features some of today's top contemporary artists and showcases a collection of original artwork inspired by the DC Comics' Justice League characters paired with real world photography that depicts the everyday heroes fighting hunger in Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya. From the Super Heroes that fight for justice in the comic world, to the human heroes who make a difference every day in the real world, Darkness & Light tells the story of the crisis through the lens of those working tirelessly to help the people of the Horn of Africa fight the hunger crisis.

The centerpiece of the collection features a large-scale piece of original artwork by Jim Lee, the legendary artist and DC Entertainment co-publisher, featuring the profile of Batman in a color palette inspired by the hues of Africa – yellow, green, red and black. Lee's work is featured alongside journalistic photography that expose moments of heroism by aid workers in the Horn of Africa.  Along with the exclusively commissioned piece from Lee, the art exhibition includes additional original art inspired by the universe of DC Comics and its iconic characters, including world-class Super Heroes Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, The Flash, Aquaman and Cyborg, as well as a few famous villains including Catwoman and The Joker. Re-imagined by exceptional contemporary artists from around the world, the artwork will be on display at tour stops nationwide. Select pieces of DC Entertainment artwork will be auctioned off at the end of the tour with all net proceeds going directly to the We Can Be Heroes campaign.

Darkness & Light is a signature initiative of We Can Be Heroes, a giving campaign designed to raise awareness and funds for the worst hunger crisis in 60 years that is taking place in the Horn of Africa where more than 8 million people are in need of immediate assistance. The unique pairing of comic-inspired art with photography from the Horn of Africa shows visitors what is possible when we tap into our own super hero qualities of responsibility, willpower and inner strength to be of service to people in need.

The comic-inspired artwork was curated for the tour to showcase the artists' expressions of the mission of the We Can Be Heroes campaign through their own lens, and to highlight the hope that the Justice League characters embody. Paired with stunning photography that depicts heroic moments in the Horn of Africa - from a mother feeding her malnourished daughter porridge for the first meal she has had in days, to a father carrying his child across miles of dry terrain to a refugee camp, to an aid worker offering solace to a little boy who has been separated from his family, the Darkness & Light exhibition reflects the super hero powers we each hold that compel us to do good in the world.

The exhibition is heading to Portland, OR where it will be on display at the global headquarters of Mercy Corps, one of the nonprofit partners in the We Can Be Heroes campaign. Some tour stops will include intimate salon events so attendees can learn more about the complexities of the ongoing hunger crisis and what they can do to make an impact. Upcoming stops for the exhibition include:

• Portland: June 25-30 at Mercy Corps Global Headquarters
• San Diego and San Diego Comic-Con: July 9-15 at Michael J. Wolf Fine Arts
• Atlanta: August 4-13 at the Phipps Plaza
• Chicago: September 20-26, location TBD 

For full details on the art exhibition tour and additional tour locations, please visit: www.WeCanBeHeroes.org/DarknessandLight

About DC Entertainment:

DC Entertainment, home to iconic brands DC Comics (Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, The Flash), Vertigo (Sandman, Fables) and MAD, is the creative division charged with strategically integrating its content across Warner Bros. Entertainment and Time Warner.  DC Entertainment works in concert with many key Warner Bros. divisions to unleash its stories and characters across all media, including but not limited to film, television, consumer products, home entertainment and interactive games. Publishing thousands of comic books, graphic novels and magazines each year, DC Entertainment is the largest English-language publisher of comics in the world.  In January 2012, DC Entertainment, in collaboration with Warner Bros. and Time Warner divisions, launched We Can Be Heroes—a giving campaign featuring the iconic Justice League super heroes—to raise awareness and funds to fight the hunger crisis in the Horn of Africa.

About We Can Be Heroes:

We Can Be Heroes (www.WeCanBeHeroes.org) is a giving campaign designed to raise awareness and funds for the hunger crisis in the Horn of Africa. Using the iconic Justice League characters from DC Entertainment, We Can Be Heroes aims to raise substantial funds for three humanitarian aid organizations working in Africa: Save the Children, International Rescue Committee, and Mercy Corps. DC Entertainment will match donations up to $1 million in total donations, and 50% of the purchase price from We Can Be Heroes products will go directly to saving lives. Learn more, donate, and get involved at www.WeCanBeHeroes.org.

Contacts:
Nicole Stipp
Fenton for We Can Be Heroes
[email protected]
212-584-5000
Kelly Osmundson
Fenton for We Can Be Heroes
[email protected]
415-901-0111

SOURCE DC Entertainment