Happy Socks Launches New Holiday Campaign with David LaChapelle

“Bringing happiness and quality to every corner of the world.”

Swedish fashion company Happy Socks is proud to present its latest collaboration with world-famous photographer David LaChapelle, well known for his provocative style, featuring nine pictures and a very unique video. Let’s face it, socks, as a whole, aren’t the sexiest things in the world; but LaChapelle has managed, with this campaign, to make Happy Socks, the absolutely sexiest accessory through a provocative print campaign and an accompanying video that is crazy like a fox and bound to get people talking about the brand.

All details on the campaign can be found on http://www.happysocks.com/dlc

Happy Socks features an almost endless variety of models and designs, using a broad spectrum of color combinations and original prints. Simply put: there’s a pair of high-quality socks for every occasion, mindset and style. It all started under the cloud-ridden April sky of yet another belated Swedish spring in 2008. Two friends had a vision: to spread happiness by turning an everyday essential into a colorful design piece with a rigid standard of ultimate quality, craftsmanship and creativity. A concept now brought to perfection by the Happy Socks collective of creators. Today Happy Socks are sold at retailers in more than 70 countries worldwide, in Happy Socks concept stores and on http://www.happysocks.com.

Happy Socks Launches Campaign with David Lachapelle

Happy Socks Launches Campaign with David Lachapelle

David LaChapelle is known internationally for his exceptional talent in combining a unique hyper-realistic aesthetic with profound social messages. LaChapelle’s striking images have graced the covers and pages of Italian Vogue, French Vogue, Vanity Fair, GQ, Rolling Stone and i-D, and he has photographed personalities as diverse as Tupac Shakur, Madonna, Amanda Lepore, Eminem, Philip Johnson, Lance Armstrong, Pamela Anderson, Lil’ Kim, Uma Thurman, Elizabeth Taylor, David Beckham, Paris Hilton, Jeff Koons, Leonardo DiCaprio, Hillary Clinton, Muhammad Ali, and Britney Spears, to name a few. Even more importantly, he’s not afraid to go out on a limb and take the viewer with him.

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For this collaboration Happy Socks chose an approach that would make most marketing people nervous: David LaChapelle was given a so called “Carte Blanche” – in essence he was told to do whatever he wants to. The company wasn’t afraid of this according to its Creative Director Viktor Tell: “We wanted to work with David LaChapelle because we really love his art, so for us to try and put any boundaries on his creativity would just go against everything we believe in“.

Mikael Soderlindh, Happy Socks CEO, adds: “We feel this collaboration really demonstrates what we are all about. Creativity is about letting go of rules and trusting your instincts, which is something we try to instil in everything we do.”

David LaChapelle’s take on Happy Socks is bursting with colour and attitude – or how David LaChapelle himself expresses it: “This colorful shoot was really dictated by the socks.” And the video itself has to be seen, preferably in the privacy of your home.

Special Recipes for Your Hannukah and Thanksgiving Feast

BigOven offers advice for home cooks juggling the intersection of two holidays

This year, combined Hanukkah-Thanksgiving recipes are everywhere, as people celebrate the alignment of two major holidays.  In 2013, the second night of Hanukkah falls on Thanksgiving (Thursday, November 28.)  Some are referring to this year’s unique Hanukkah-Thanksgiving crossover as “Thanksgivukkah.”  Thanksgivukkah will not happen again for 70,000 years, so BigOven’s editorial team encourages home cooks to embrace the meeting of these holidays by combining scrumptious ingredients to make new creations.

TRY LATKES WITH THANKSGIVING FLAIR. Potatoes take center stage at Hanukkah dinner and provide a tasty side dish at the Thanksgiving feast. Cook potato latkes Thanksgiving-style by using fall vegetables found at theThanksgiving table.

• Sweet      Potato Latkes
• Crispy Root Vegetable Latkes with Beet Puree
• Carrot Scallion Latkes
• Butternut Squash Latkes with Sage and Pine Nut      Yogurt Sauce

More traditional families may enjoy garnishing potato latkes with a festive Thanksgiving topping.

• Cranberry Applesauce
• Apple      Beet Salsa
• Cranberry Horseradish Sauce

While latkes and turkey make a beautiful pairing, it’s these fall sides that will really make your meal shine.

• Potato      Kugel Cups
• Maple-Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Hazelnuts
• Chard and Caramelized Shallot Noodle Kugel
• Gluten Free Horseradish Mushroom Baked Potatoes
• Challah Bread Mushroom Stuffing with Wild Rice      and Mushrooms

Neither Hanukkah nor Thanksgiving is complete without satisfying one’s sweet tooth. Finish the meal with these delectable desserts.

• Chai Sufganiyot (Hanukkah Donuts) with Orange-Pumpkin      Buttercream
• Cranberry      Rugalach
• Orange Cranberry Thanksgivukkah Jelly Donuts
• Sweet Potato Doughnuts with Maple Icing
• Hanukkah Gelt Coins Cookies

BigOven offers fully customizable pre-made Thanksgivukkah menus that cooks can add to a menu planner and grocery list, then take to the store. Mobile apps for iPhone, iPad, Android, Kindle Fire, NOOK and Windows Phone allow cooks complete access to their recipe collection at the store, making planning for both holidays a seamless task.

See full Thanksgivukkah Menus here:

• Thanksgivukkah Celebration featuring Butternut Squash Latkes and Rye and Apple Stuffing
• Thanksgivukkah      Dinner featuring Potato Latkes with Cranberry Jam and Chard and Carmelized Shallot Noodle Kugel
• Thanksgivukkah      Feast featuring Roast Turkey with Apples, Onions, Fried Sage      Leaves and Apple Cider Gravy and Rye Pumpernickel Stuffing
• Thanksgivukkah      Menu featuring Thanksgiving Deep Fried Turkey and Challah Bead-Mushroom Stuffing with Wild Rice and      Raisins

Craving more? Get inspired by checking out the hand-picked Thanksgivukkah collection on BigOven, and join in the fun by sharing your own on BigOven.com.  BigOven makes it easy for home cooks to juggle these holidays, from planning to grocery shopping to preparation.

BigOven’s (http://bigoven.com) mission is to help home cooks get inspired and organized, in the kitchen and on the go. A mobile cooking leader with over 9 million downloads, BigOven helps home cooks get better meals on the table. BigOven was the first recipe app for the iPhone, iPad, Android and Windows Phone. BigOven syncs recipes, grocery list and menu plans across the web, tablet and smartphone.

Samuel Adams Releases 2013 Batch of Renowned Barrel-Aged Beer, Samuel Adams Utopias

FOR 2013 UTOPIAS RELEASE, THE BREWERS EXPERIMENTED WITH BLENDING KOSMIC MOTHER FUNK INTO THE BREW FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER

The brewers at Samuel Adams (www.samueladams.com) announced the 2013 batch of Samuel Adams Utopias, the brewery’s most renowned barrel-aged, extreme beer and one of the year’s most anticipated beer releases. This year marks the first time Samuel Adams brewers have blended Utopias with Samuel Adams Kosmic Mother Funk (KMF), a Belgian-style ale barrel-aged for at least nine months (and up to two years) in Hungarian oak tuns.

Utopias is a strong, rich, uncarbonated dark beer best served as a two-ounce pour at room temperature in a snifter glass. Utopias 2013 weighs in at 28 percent alcohol by volume (ABV) and is available at select specialty beer and liquor stores starting this November for a suggested retail price of $199 per bottle. (PRNewsFoto/Samuel Adams)

Utopias is known for its tobacco and darker fruit notes, and drinkers will continue to notice this character from previous batches, but the KMF blend (also used in Samuel Adams Barrel Room Collection beers) brings a whole new spectrum of flavors and complexity to the beer, including brighter fruit notes in the finish and just a hint of sourness which tones down the sweetness of the brew a bit. Utopias is brewed using traditional methods. The brewers begin with a blend of two-row Caramel and Munich malts that impart a rich, deep amber color. Noble hops – Hallertau Mittelfrueh, Spalt Spalter and Tettnang Tettnanger – are also added to lend complexity and balance. During fermentation, several yeast strains are used, including one normally reserved for champagne. The beer is then blended with a variety of different brews, some of which have been aged in different wood barrels for more than 20 years. As a result of the blending and aging, Utopias invokes the flavors of a rich vintage Port, fine Cognac, or aged Sherry while feeling surprisingly light on the palate.

For the 2013 batch, the brewers also aged a portion of the beer in hand-selected, single-use bourbon casks from the award-winning Buffalo Trace Distillery. This additional aging process enhances the beer’s distinct notes of vanilla and maple. The 2013 release also spent time in Port casks from Portugal, which contribute elegant, dark fruit aromas. The resulting release of Utopias has notes of dark fruit like fig, subtle sweetness, and a deep rich malty smoothness. Utopias 2013 weighs in at 28 percent alcohol by volume (ABV).

Meant to be savored like vintage fortified wine or fine cognac, Utopias is a strong, rich, uncarbonated dark beer best served as a two-ounce pour at room temperature in a snifter glass. Samuel Adams Utopias is brewed in small batches, blended, and aged in the Barrel Room at the Samuel Adams Boston Brewery.

Founder & Brewer Jim Koch’s thoughts on the addition of KMF: “Utopias takes time to perfect. We are constantly checking in on it: tasting, comparing, blending vintage beers and trying different blends to see what might improve the flavor. This year, as part of that exploration, we incorporated a touch of our Kosmic Mother Funk (KMF) in the recipe and really liked what we tasted. The KMF brings a whole new spectrum of flavors and complexity to the beer, including brighter fruit notes like cherries and plums and just a little earthiness.”

The brewers make fewer than 15,000 bottles of this limited-edition beer due to the long aging required. It will be available at select specialty beer and liquor stores starting this November for a suggested retail price of $199 per bottle. For additional information and to locate a retailer visit www.samueladams.com.

Also new this year – The first craft beer-seasoned cigar:

Samuel Adams has teamed with Ted’s Cigars to create a limited-edition, Utopias-seasoned cigar; the first ever craft beer-seasoned cigar. Created to be enjoyed on its own or as a pairing with Utopias, the cigar features the brew’s distinct subtle sweetness and rich notes of maple and vanilla along with a spicy complexity from the tobacco blend. Hand rolled in the Dominican Republic and flavored at Ted’s Cigars’ Louisville headquarters, the Utopias-seasoned cigars provide a pronounced yet subtle Utopias flavor without affecting the cigar’s integrity. This is done through Ted’s tedious, proprietary process of aromatic seasoning, which perfectly marries the complex flavors of both the cigar and the Utopias.

Ted Jackson, president of Ted’s Cigars, on the Utopias-seasoned Cigar: “Cigars and craft beer, particularly a complex brew like Utopias, have more in common than most people would imagine and complement each other quite well. Aficionados of both cigars and beer know that subtle flavors and delicate touches can elevate the drinking or smoking experience tenfold. It’s exciting for us to work with such an innovative brewery to create these one-of-a-kind cigars.”

When enjoying Utopias and the seasoned cigar together, the beer brings out a creamy, spicy sweetness from the cigar and enhances the subtle leather and smoky character in the cigar’s finish.

Ted’s Utopias-seasoned cigars make the perfect stocking stuffer for cigar and craft beer lovers alike, and will be available exclusively at TedsCigars.com/SamuelAdams during the months of November and December 2013. Pair them with Samuel Adams Utopias for the ultimate beer-lover’s holiday treat.

Fancy Feast® Launches a Holiday Celebration for Cats, Cat Owners and Cat Lovers

The holiday season is a time of tradition, gift giving and indulgence! As families and friends come together, Fancy Feast® is making sure that cats are included in all of the festivities with the launch of Feastivities, a holiday celebration of all things cat. www.Feastivities.com is an online destination for holiday cheer with gifts for cats, cat owners and cat lovers.

Hosted by popular online beauty and style expert Elle Fowler and her cat Pinecone, www.Feastivities.com features a collection of hand-crafted gifts inspired by Fancy Feast. Each gift is exclusively made by a selected designer, with an eye for cat-centric creations. With collars, tents and bow ties for cats, and tote bags, drawings and accessories for cat lovers, Feastivities.com has gifts for everyone.

The collection includes CAT JEWELRY BY SALTY KISSES HAWAII, GINGIBER ART PRINT, LITTLE LARK CAT TOTE, MADE BY CLEO CAT COLLAR, FELINE INTENT CAT TEPEE, OVER CAT BOW TIE, and the SILVER LOTUS CAT JEWELRY.

“Pinecone is at the center of all of my holiday traditions,” said Fowler, star of the Elle’s Glitter Gossip YouTube

2013 Fancy Feast holiday ornament available now at Feastivities.com. (PRNewsFoto/Fancy Feast Gourmet Cat Food)

channel. “Thanks to Fancy Feast and Feastivities.com he even has his own special dinner and a gift under the tree.”

In addition to the exclusive gifts created by the designers, www.Feastivities.com will also feature the 2013 Fancy Feast holiday ornament. For more than 25 years, the Fancy Feast brand has released an annual collectable holiday ornament.

This year, Fancy Feast added a handcrafted element to its holiday tradition – a unique letterpress keepsake ornament. Designed and made by The Firecracker Press, a small letterpress print shop in St. Louis, the piece features beautiful illustrations delicately imprinted onto fine paper using an antique letterpress. St. Louis is also home to the Fancy Feast brand.

Crafted in an elegant, three-dimensional design, the 2013 Fancy Feast holiday ornament features an artful illustration of the iconic Fancy Feast cat. The ornament blends timeless tradition and modern inspiration for a keepsake that will bring joy for years to come. The 2013 holiday ornament is available for $2 at www.Feastivities.com. All donations will go directly to Adopt-a-Pet.com, North America’s largest non-profit pet adoption website dedicated to finding great owners for homeless pets.

Cat owners may celebrate Feastivities with their cats at dinnertime this holiday season with Fancy Feast Gravy Lovers entrees. The holidays are the perfect time for the indulgence of gravy. With five varieties to choose from, cat owners are sure to find the perfect gift for their cats to enjoy this holiday season.

Fancy Feast Gravy Lovers entrees are featured in five 3 oz. varieties, and are available on store shelves nationwide:

• Gravy Lovers Beef Feast In Roasted Beef Flavor Gravy
• Gravy Lovers Chicken Feast In Grilled Chicken Flavor Gravy
• Gravy Lovers Ocean Whitefish & Tuna Feast In Sauteed Seafood Flavor Gravy
• Gravy Lovers Salmon Feast In Seared Salmon Flavor Gravy
• Gravy Lovers Turkey Feast In Roasted Turkey Flavor Gravy

Three new varieties of Fancy Feast Gravy Lovers entrees will be available nationwide in January 2014:

• Gravy Lovers Chicken & Beef Feast In Grilled Chicken Flavor Gravy
• Gravy Lovers Salmon & Sole Feast In Seared Salmon Flavor Gravy
• Gravy Lovers Chicken Hearts & Liver Feast In Grilled Chicken Flavor Gravy

For more information about Fancy Feast Feastivities, the 2013 holiday ornament or Fancy Feast Gravy Lovers, visit www.Feastivities.com.

Glenmorangie Named 2014 World Whisky of the Year

Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible pays homage to the “borderline perfection” of Private Edition Ealanta

Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible pays homage to the “borderline perfection” of Private Edition Ealanta. (PRNewsFoto/Glenmorangie)

Glenmorangie’s Ealanta has been named the World Whisky of the Year by Jim Murray, one of the world’s leading whisky experts. Glenmorangie’s Ealanta was released at the start of 2013 as the fourth annual release in the company’s award-winning Private Edition range and is a 19 Years Old Glenmorangie expression, fully matured in virgin American white oak casks with a provenance that stretches all the way to the Mark Twain National Forest in Missouri. The expression is yet another testament to the brands commitment to perfection; fitting seamlessly into their ‘Unnecessarily Well Made’ campaign. The greatly anticipated fifth release is set to arrive next year. (www.glenmorangie.com)

This year 4,500 whiskies were tasted, evaluated and rated by Murray, who was blown away by Ealanta’s innovative aroma and taste profile. Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible is published annually and is regarded as a benchmark for the category.

In his 2014 Whisky Bible, Murray pays tribute to the quality of the Private Edition Single Malt Scotch by describing it as having “one of the longest finishes of any Scotch this year…and borderline perfection.” It scored 97.5 out of 100 points, the highest awarded this year.

Dr. Bill Lumsden, The Glenmorangie Company’s Director of Distilling and Whisky Creation, said, “This is a wonderful award for us and testament to the ongoing success of our Private Edition range.  Jim Murray has been a leading judge of whisky for three decades so this is a major coup for us. It’s no secret in our industry that it’s the ‘wood that makes the whisky,’ and for many years my team and I have been carrying out detailed research in this area.”

Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible, celebrating its tenth anniversary this year, said, “Glenmorangie Ealanta pipped others to the post because it went out and did something different; not only did it blow one away with its deftness, beauty and elegance, but it gave an aroma and taste profile completely new to me in over 30 years of tasting whisky.”

Glenmorangie’s Ealanta is a limited release with a suggested retail selling price of $119 and is available at specialty retailers until stocks are exhausted.

Spread Chocolate Cheer This Holiday Season with a Gift from Ethel M® Chocolates

This holiday season; give everyone on your list an affordable luxury experience: Ethel M® Chocolates from www.EthelM.com. These exceptional gourmet confections — made without preservatives — hold true to the recipes that Ethel Mars once made in her own kitchen in the early 1900’s. Comprised of the finest ingredients and made in small batches -– some made by hand, Ethel M® Chocolates embody the ideal holiday gift for everyone on your list, from friends and family to party hosts and business associates.

For girlfriends and party hosts: Say cheers to the holiday season with the new Holiday Cocktail Collection ($28). The 16 pieces include Champagne Cocktail and Mucha Margarita drenched in milk chocolate, and Lemon Drop and Chocopolitan wrapped in dark chocolate. Each piece is filled with holiday spirits combined in a crème center. Colorful retro designs atop each piece add festive fun to this gift. (Local state laws prohibit the shipment of alcoholic products directly to consumers in many states. See online ordering information for details.)

For business clients or hard-to-buy-for friends: Personalize a gift by including their favorite flavors inside a Design Your Own box ($37-$97). It’s simple: choose a box style, select the chocolates and place the order. From the caramel lover to the truffle fan to the Satin Cremes® connoisseur, you’ve got the holidays covered.

Treat yourself: Open the Holiday Deluxe Collection ($24) and start a tradition with a delicious variety of the best of Ethel M® Chocolates. Each 34-piece box includes new limited edition holiday flavors, each enrobed in rich chocolate: Peppermint Silk, Pecan Pie, Pumpkin Pie and Egg Nog. The collection also features creamy caramels, Almond Crunch and Satin Cremes®.

For that special guy on the list: The sweet and savory Classic and Chocolate-covered Pecan Brittle ($35) offers a softer crunch, thanks to a secret recipe and hand-picked pecans. Ethel M® signature brittle has a delicious buttery taste, is created with just a few ingredients and is handcrafted in small batches.

For moms and mother-in-laws: They will appreciate this recipe handed down for generations, as the 16-piece Satin Cremes® Collection ($28) is made with real cream and stirred by hand. The buttery fillings are flavored with fresh raspberries, vanilla, chocolate and lemon, and then drenched in premium chocolate.

For friends celebrating Hanukkah: The new 16-piece Kosher Hanukkah Classic Collection ($28) features buttery caramels, milk and dark Satin Cremes® and an assortment of crunchy nut pieces. Or choose the Hanukkah Collection Bundle ($45), which includes the Classic Collection adorned with a Hanukkah bow, one Hanukkah Bar Set of three delectable chocolate bars, and one bag of 22 Chocolate Gelt Coins.

“Ethel M” was the matriarch of the Mars family; her husband and son –- Frank C. Mars and Forrest Mars, Sr. -– founded world-renowned Mars, Incorporated, manufacturer of iconic brands like M&M’S® Brand Candies, SNICKERS® Bar and DOVE® Chocolate. In 1981 Forrest Mars, Sr., created Ethel M® Chocolates as a tribute to his mother, who taught him the art of making chocolate.

Cyber Monday shoppers seeking the perfect gift can unwrap a special deal at www.EthelM.com. Enter the code CYBERMONDAY13 to receive a 20 percent discount, with no minimum order, plus a $5 flat rate standard shipping fee for orders of $50 or more. This code is valid during the 24 hours of Monday, Dec. 2, 2013. Ethel M.® Chocolates are sold online at www.EthelM.com , by phone at (800) 438-4356 and in five locations throughout Las Vegas.

The Dalmore Selected By Daniel Boulud Single Malt Scotch Whisky Now Available Nationwide

The First-Ever Bespoke Single Malt Created in Collaboration with a Michelin-Star Chef Hits Retail Shelves

Chef Daniel Boulud and The Dalmore announced that The Dalmore Selected by Daniel Boulud, the world’s first single malt scotch whisky created in collaboration with a Michelin-star chef, is now available for purchase both in-store and online in top fine wine and spirits retailers across the US. With an RRP of $200, this limited release of only 1,000 bottles has been recognized by the International Wine & Spirit Competition with a Gold Medal. A full list of retail locations can be found at www.thedalmore.com/boulud(1).

The Dalmore Selected by Daniel Boulud. (PRNewsFoto/The Dalmore)

The Dalmore Selected by Daniel Boulud has already earned seals of approval from star chefs, food writers and key players in the restaurant and beverage trade, and is also available for $50/glass at all six of Chef Boulud’s New York City restaurant properties, including DANIEL, Cafe Boulud, BouludSud, db Bistro Moderne, Bar Boulud and DBGBKitchen & Bar.

Chef Daniel Boulud with The Dalmore Selected by Daniel Boulud bottle and liquid. (PRNewsFoto/The Dalmore)

“I have always appreciated the craft of a fine whisky while growing up in Lyon, France,” says Chef Boulud. “In recent years, I started seeing an increase in the popularity of brown spirits, both in my restaurants and among food enthusiasts. I wanted to connect this appreciation of Scotch whisky and elevate the spirit to become an integral part of the fine dining experience, bringing a new, high-quality and very personal product to my customers.”

Located on the northern shores of the Firth of Cromarty, deep in the spectacular Scottish Highlands, The Dalmore

The Dalmore Selected by Daniel Boulud. (PRNewsFoto/The Dalmore)

Distillery has been producing exceptional single malt whisky since 1839 and houses some of Scotland’s most precious and rare whisky stocks. A bottle of The Dalmore 62 Sinclair sold last year in Changi Airport, Singapore, for $194,000, making it the most expensive bottle ever sold in retail. The first whisky to break the six figure barrier, The Dalmore Trinitas, was launched in 2010 with only three bottles made available. Two were sold for $156,000 and the final bottle was acquired by Harrods of London and subsequently sold for $187,000 within six months of launch. www.thedalmore.com

The Dalmore distillery (www.thedalmore.com) has been producing exceptional single malt whisky since 1839 and has some of the oldest and rarest stocks of any Highland distillery. Crafted using a process which has been perfected over the last 150 years, The Dalmore is home of the record-breaking Constellation Collection and Paterson Collection, valued at $250,000 and $1,460,000 respectively.

The process of creating The Dalmore Selected by Daniel Boulud occurred over six months and three different visits to New York City by The Dalmore Master Distiller, Richard Paterson. Paterson first selected 10 whisky samples from The Dalmore distillery, chosen specifically to align with Chef Boulud’s flavor preferences and unique cuisine. Each sample had matured in a range of oak casks, previously filled with different wines and spirits ranging from Bordeaux wine barriques to 30 year old Matusalem Oloroso Sherry casks.

Conversations and Salon: Art Basel announces talks program for 2013 edition in Art Basel Miami Beach

Bringing together the world’s leading artists, museum directors, collectors, and curators, Art Basel in Miami Beach’s daily line up of events offers dynamic dialogs between prominent members of the international art world. Featured artists include Doug Aitken, Cory Arcangel, John Baldessari, Dara Birnbaum, Abraham Cruzvillegas, Jim Drain, Olafur Eliasson, Tracey Emin, Cécile B. Evans, Naomi Fisher, Mario Garcia Torres, Kate Gilmore, Ellen Harvey, Camille Henrot, Brian Khek, Joseph Kosuth, Alicja Kwade, Sharon Louden, Rashaad Newsome, Mungo Thomson, Ry Rocklen, Gabriel Sierra, Frances Stark, Brian Tolle, Erika Verzutti, Allyson Vieira and Robert Whitman.

This year’s CONVERSATIONS PROGRAM in Miami Beach launches on Thursday, December 5 with the Premiere Artist Talk by the American multimedia artist Doug Aitken, discussing his recent nomadic project ‘Station to Station’ in conversation with Artforum Editor Michelle Kuo.

The 2013 Conversations program features a particularly strong line-up of leading international museum directors and curators. Drawing on recent experiences with transnational initiatives and collaborations, a panel of leading curators and museum directors and curators, including Patrick Charpenel, Chris Dercon, Chus Martinez and Alexandra Munroe, explores the benefits and pitfalls of museums going global. The program includes the continuation of a series launched at Art Basel in Hong Kong earlier this year ‘The Artist and the Gallerist’ with a conversation between the artist Abraham Cruzvillegas and Monica Manzutto and Jose Kuri, the founders of kurimanzutto, Mexico City. The series concludes with a panel discussion among artists including Cory Arcangel, Cécile B. Evans, Camille Henrot, and Robert Whitman, whose work relates to technological developments and digital realm moderated by Hans Ulrich Obrist, Co- Director, Serpentine Gallery, London. The Conversations series is presented by Absolut.

An open platform for shorter, often informal presentations, the afternoon Salon program features artist talks, panel discussions, lectures and book launches with curators, museum directors, lawyers, and artists, including from the show’s Public and Film sectors. Topics are as varied as the participants, ranging from artist talks, a presentation on Constructive Art Criticism in Latin America, to a roundtable conversation on the role of small-scale arts institutions and a discussion entitled ‘Bankrupt Cities. Endangered Museums: Learning From the Case of the Detroit Institute of Arts’. A series of engaging pairings – the artist Tracey Emin with Sir Norman Rosenthal; John Baldessari with Hans Ulrich Obrist; Olafur Eliasson with Klaus Biesenbach; and Josh Baer of the Baer Faxt with the artist Joseph Kosuth – promise to provide unique insight into the artists practice, the balance between the art market and art history.

Conversations takes place daily from Thursday, December 5 to Sunday, December 8, 10am to 11:30am – and Salon daily Thursday, December 5 to Sunday, December 8, from 1pm to 7pm (Sunday to 4pm). Both programs take place in the Hall C auditorium of the Miami Beach Convention Center. Talks from the Conversations program are free to the public. Art Basel entry tickets include admission to Conversations and Salon.

DETAILED CONVERSATIONS PROGRAM

Thursday, December 5 – Premiere | Artist Talk | Doug Aitken

Doug Aitken inaugurates Conversations with a discussion about his most recent project ‘Station to Station’. This nomadic ‘happening’ took place on a train that visited cities, towns and remote locations is an artist-created project that embraced constantly changing stories, unexpected encounters and creative collisions between artists, musicians and creative pioneers.

Doug Aitken, Artist, Los Angeles/New York in conversation with Michelle Kuo, Editor, Artforum, New York

Friday, December 6 – Public/Private | Museums Go Global

Expanding the collecting and exhibiting mandates of many leading western museums is accompanied by a host of unanswered questions: What aspects of global art culture should these institutions embrace? How should museums modify their approaches to collecting, programming, and educating? What institutional models should they adopt? And how are artists and institutions in other parts of the world responding to the intensified regional presence of western institutions? Drawing on recent experiences with global initiatives and collaborations, this panel of leading curators and museum directors will explore the benefits and pitfalls of museums going global.

Patrick Charpenel, Director, Fundación Jumex, Mexico City; Chris Dercon, Director, Tate Modern, London; Chus Martinez, Chief Curator at El Museo del Barrio, New York; Alexandra Munroe, Samsung Senior Curator, Asian Art, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York with Moderator: András Szántó, Author and Consultant to arts and philanthropic organizations, New York

Saturday, December 7 – The Artist and the Gallerist

Launched at the inaugural Art Basel show in Hong Kong, the series titled ‘The Artist and the Gallerist’ offers a peek behind the curtain of the unique and essential artworld relationship between artists and their representing galleries.

Abraham Cruzvillegas, Artist, Mexico City; Monica Manzutto and Jose Kuri, Founder of kurimanzutto, Mexico City with Moderator: Mark Rappolt, Editor, ArtReview, London

Sunday, December 8 – Artistic Practice | The Artist as Technologist

Offering fresh insights on dynamic models of artistic practice, this panel brings together artists whose work is related to current developments in technology and the realm of the digital. Among the questions: How does the increasing and growing relationship between humankind and digital systems or machines change our perception of art? How does technology and especially the internet unleash artists’ local boundaries and enables them a global spectrum? In what ways does technology and new media or systems catalyze creativity?

Cory Arcangel, Artist, Los Angeles; Cécile B. Evans, Artist, Berlin; Camille Henrot, Artist, Paris; Robert Whitman, Artist and Co-Founder of Experiments in Art and Technology, New York with Moderator: Hans Ulrich Obrist, Co-Director, Serpentine Gallery, London