Munich/Miami Beach. On the occasion of Art Basel Miami Beach 2023, BMW and Alex Israel will unveil REMEMBR, an AI-powered, participatory and interactive video installation that guides visitors on a journey through time and memory in a captivating fusion of art and technology. The new 100% electric BMW i5 played a fundamental role in inspiring Israel for this collaboration. REMEMBR will be exhibited from December 8 to 10, 2023, at Art Basel Miami Beach, the world’s premier art show for Modern and contemporary art. As a global partner of the Art Basel shows, BMW will once again provide the VIP car service.

Alex Israel is a renowned contemporary artist based in Los Angeles, known for his innovative and thought-provoking work that often explores the intersection of popular culture, art and technology. His body of work, which includes paintings, sculpture and mixed-media installations, frequently draws inspiration from the vibrant culture and iconic imagery of his hometown. Israel’s unique artistic perspective allows him to capture the zeitgeist of modern life in a way that is both insightful and engaging. His collaboration with BMW on the REMEMBR video installation, using the BMW i5 as a pivotal inspiration, showcases his commitment to exploring the boundaries of what art can be in the digital age.

“It was a true pleasure to meet with Alex in Munich and explore the BMW i5 together. His fascination with our latest innovation mirrors our shared commitment to blending the worlds of technology, design and art to pursue something truly extraordinary. The BMW i5 is a vehicle that not only moves you physically but emotionally and imaginatively, much like Alex’s art,” said Domagoj Dukec, Head of BMW Design.

Israel worked closely with BMW to develop AI technology that will collect, filter, compose and choreograph the visitor’s phone’s camera content. In an immersive installation across seven custom-designed screens at Art Basel Miami Beach, guests are invited to discover the hyper-memories of Alex Israel and, equally, share their own.

“Working on REMEMBR with BMW has been an incredible learning experience. The electric BMW i5 played a significant role in the conception of this project,” said Alex Israel. “I always say that my real studio is my car. I get most of my ideas while I’m driving around LA and my memories stream and fuse with my imagination to bear new ideas as the radio shuffles and the city passes me by. The i5, with its AI technology and the My Modes feature, resonated for me as a milestone in the evolution of human-machine relationships. The i5 is a memory-making tool that encourages discovery, anticipates human need and tailors experience to each individual driver. Similarly, our phones have also helped to close this gap, evolving from mere communication devices into digital diaries-extensions of our memories and external hard drives in our pockets. REMEMBR asks: what if we could revisit and share all these memories in an engaging way? This project is a testament to the power of technology in shaping our memories and experiences, and I’m excited for visitors to explore it and themselves this December at Art Basel in Miami Beach”, continued Israel.

“For over 50 years now, BMW has initiated cultural collaborations and forged meaningful connections with world-renowned artists and by extension art lovers everywhere – while promoting the creative spirit that drives our brand forward and inspires us all,” said Marcus Casey, Chief Marketing Officer, BMW of North America. “We’re delighted to collaborate with Alex Israel on this project that seamlessly blends art, technology and design, much like the first-ever 100% electric BMW i5.”

REMEMBR reflects BMW’s commitment to innovation, cutting-edge technology and design, which are key features of the new BMW i5. The new BMW 5 Series is digital, dynamic and now, with the BMW i5, also fully electric. The i5 represents the joy of moving forward as a symbol of integration and an empowering mindset. It represents the emotional spearhead that combines tech magic and human-centric design in a fully electric vehicle. The BMW My Modes allow the car to respond to the driver’s mindset with different sensory environments, creating a human-centered approach to the use of technology.

Experience REMEMBR and the fully electric BMW i5:

December 8 – 10, 2023

BMW Lounge at Art Basel Miami Beach Collectors Lounge

Miami Beach Convention Center, 1901 Convention Center Drive, FL 33139

BMW i5 M60 xDrive: Power consumption combined in WLTP cycle: 20.6 – 18.2 kWh/100 km. Electric range in WLTP cycle: 455 – 516 km

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Today

Winter Nights — With silver bells, frosty firs and snowy scenes, 6 p.m. until midnight on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, through Dec. 22 at the Walton Arts Center’s Bradberry Amphitheater & Rose Garden and Joy Pratt Markham Gallery in Fayetteville. Free. A limited number of snow globes with fire pits and a dedicated cocktail server for groups of up to eight can be reserved for 75-minute time slots for $100. waltonartscenter.org.

Indigenous Film Showcase — Hosted by the River Valley Film Society and the Fort Smith International Film Festival, 6:30 p.m. filmmaker mixer, 7 p.m. screening, The Bakery District in Fort Smith. $5 suggested donation. Email [email protected].

“Shaken Up!” — Devised theater by NWACC students, 7 p.m. Nov. 30-Dec. 3, White Auditorium at Northwest Arkansas Community College in Bentonville. $5. Tickets are available at the door, cash/check/Venmo accepted.

“Fiddler on the Roof” — 7 p.m. Nov. 30, 7 p.m. Dec. 2 & 2 p.m. Dec. 3, Skokos Performing Arts Center at Alma High School. $12-$18. skokospac.org.

“A Christmas Carol” — Produced by Earthen Vessels Drama Co., 7 p.m. Nov. 30-Dec. 1, 2 & 7:30 p.m. Dec. 2, 2:30 & 7 p.m. Dec. 3, King Opera House in Van Buren. $6. kingoperahouse.com.

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Friday

Hot Cocoa Crawl — 5-8 p.m. in Springdale. Springdale School District’s annual Caroling on the Creek is the same day from 5-7 p.m. in Turnbow Park.

Mitzvah Holiday Art Market — With art by more than 50 local artists including special guest artist Zeek Taylor, live jazz, an Elvis impersonator and adult beverages, 5-9 p.m., Fayetteville Town Center. Email [email protected].

Christmas Tree Lighting — 5 p.m., Basin Spring Park, before the Christmas parade at 6 p.m. in Eureka Springs. Santa Claus will be in the park from noon to 2 p.m. and 3 to 5 p.m. for the first three Saturdays in December.

Christmas Parade of Lights — 6 p.m., downtown Eureka Springs. Free. 253-8737.

Rogers Christmas Parade — 6:30 p.m., beginning at Fifth and Poplar through the heart of downtown. There will also be photos with Santa from 5-7 p.m. There will also be a Christmas market at Railyard Park and Frisco Plaza. destinationrogers.com.

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Saturday

Cookie Walk — Thousands of homemade cookies by church members, 8:30-11 a.m., Highlands Church of Bella Vista. Event also includes a Sweet Shoppe, Coffee Shoppe, Soups-T0-Go and a Craft Shoppe. Doors open at 8 a.m. $15 per cookie tin. 855-2277.

Breakfast with Santa — 9 a.m., Siloam Springs Community Building with Santa, Mrs. Claus and their Reindeer helpers. Children will have their photos taken with Santa, send a letter to the North Pole, make a craft and receive a snack. The price is $10 per child. Links and more information at facebook.com/heritageleaguesiloamsprings.

Farmington Cardinal Christmas Bazaar — 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Farmington Junior High. Admission is $3.

Holiday Market — With hot cocoa, apple cider, cookies and handmade goods by more than 50 local artists, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Community Creative Center at WAC’s Nadine Baum Studios in Fayetteville. Holiday goods will be for sale at the center through Dec. 17. communitycreativecenter.org.

“Fireside” — With music, hot chocolate, apple cider and a bookstore sale, starting at 10 a.m., Bella Vista Public Library. www.bvpl.org

The Santa Drop — Gates open at 10 a.m., with Santa sky diving in at 11 a.m., and guests may take pictures with Santa until 1 p.m. or until the line ends at Arkansas Air and Military Museum, 4290 S. School Ave, Fayetteville. Weather backup dates Dec. 9 and 16. arkansasairandmilitary.com/calendar.

Wampus Wonderland — A holiday craft show featuring goods from local makers and creatives, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Mount Sequoyah, 150 N. Skyline Drive in Fayetteville. wampuswonderlandonfacebook

Christmas Tour of Homes — 2-6 p.m. with carolers, Christmas music, and refreshments, Eureka Springs. eurekaspringspreservationsociety.org.

Little Craft Show — With stained glass, clay, digital art prints and more, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Fayetteville Town Center. experiencefayetteville.com

Holiday Open House — With hot cider and cookies, 4 p.m., Gravette Public Library. Children will receive a Christmas ornament and an art kit from Crystal Bridges while supplies last.

Christmas Parade — 4:30 p.m., downtown Gravette.

Holiday Open House — With hot chocolate and cookies, after the parade, Gravette Historical Museum. Photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus are free in the Gravette Community Building across from the museum. gravettear.com/christmas-parade

Christmas Parade — Themed Gingerbread Houses, 5:30 p.m., Curtis Avenue to downtown Pea Ridge, followed by the tree lighting and performances by the high school choir and band, pictures with Santa, hot chocolate and shopping.

Light Up Siloam Springs Christmas Parade — Themed Reindeer Games, 5:30 p.m. starting on Tulsa Street. More information at discoversiloam.com.

Christmas Parade — Themed “Christmas Movies,” 6 p.m., Southwinds to Cimarron Way in Farmington. Holiday market 4-8 p.m. next to the library.

“The Grand Ol’ Christmas Show” — A musical variety and comedy sketch show hosted by Will Hearn featuring Dalton Flake and members of Blue Water Highway & The Dirty River Jazz Band, 7 p.m. at The Aud in Eureka Springs. $20-$30. greatpassionplay.org/christmas.

Holiday Celebration — With the Fort Smith Symphony, 7 p.m., ArcBest Performing Arts Center in Fort Smith. $25-$55. fortsmithsymphony.org.

“The Nutcracker” — Presented by Ozark Ballet Theater, 1 p.m. Dec. 2-3, Berry Performing Arts Center at John Brown University ($35) in Siloam Springs and at 7 p.m. Dec. 9 and 2 p.m. Dec. 10 at Don Tyson School of Innovation in Springdale ($31-$45). ozarkballettheater.com

“Holiday Cabaret” — Presented by Theatre Collective of Northwest Arkansas, 7 p.m. Dec. 2 and 3 p.m. Dec. 3, Canvas Church, 1106 N.W. 10th St. Bentonville. $18-$27. theatrecollectivenwa.org.

— Becca Martin-Brown

[email protected]

Few artists are as well known and beloved as Vincent van Gogh. From “Almond Blossom” and “Sunflowers” to his iconic self-portraits and striking impressionist works, Van Gogh is recognized worldwide for his use of bold colors and dramatic brush strokes. Housing the largest collection of Van Gogh’s art in the world, the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, Netherlands, is dedicated to the work of both the artist and his contemporaries.

▲ The Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam

Samsung Newsroom sat down with Jordy Howldar, Head of Business Development Asia at the Van Gogh Museum, to discuss how technology is preserving Van Gogh’s legacy for future generations and how the partnership with Samsung Art Store has enhanced art accessibility.

Democratizing Access to Art With Samsung Art Store

Q: Could you give us an overview of your role at the Van Gogh Museum?

As Head of Business Development Asia at the Van Gogh Museum, I am responsible for partnerships and licensing in Asia. My work primarily involves building the museum’s presence within the Asian market, collaborating with notable brands to expand reach and managing these partnerships to ensure they align with the values and goals of the Van Gogh Museum.

Q: The relationship between Samsung Art Store and the Van Gogh Museum dates back to 2018. Since then, has the museum changed how it selects art pieces to feature in Samsung Art Store?

Our approach when selecting art pieces for Samsung Art Store has evolved since 2018. Now, we carefully consider the preferences and trends among global audiences and aim to showcase a diverse collection of Van Gogh’s work that resonates with different cultures and tastes. Over the years, Van Gogh’s art has become immensely popular with The Frame users — as both his famous pieces and lesser-known works have attracted massive viewership.

▲ “Self-Portrait with Grey Felt Hat” (1887)

Q: What is the significance of making Van Gogh’s work available to large audiences through a platform like Samsung Art Store?

Platforms such as Samsung Art Store democratize access to art, allowing people to experience Van Gogh’s creativity without needing to travel. In addition, his pieces are exposed to new audiences who might not otherwise have the opportunity to engage with them.

Half a Century of Immortalizing Artistic Excellence

Q: How is the Van Gogh Museum celebrating its 50th anniversary?

To celebrate its 50th anniversary, the museum is organizing special exhibitions, events and educational programs to reflect on past achievements and anticipate future contributions to the art world. We encourage everyone to join the celebrations by attending our collaborations and exhibitions — such as the one with Pokémon which runs until January 2024. Earlier this year, we held the Sunflower Art Festival to celebrate the anniversary.

▲ “Sunflowers” (1889)

Q: What are some of the most memorable or significant moments in the Van Gogh Museum’s 50-year history?

For our first anniversary, the museum held an exhibition for visitors to explore the history of the institute. Without the unconditional support from the Van Gogh family, the museum simply would not exist.

Q: Of the pieces selected for Samsung Art Store, which ones would you recommend users display on The Frame?

The first would be “Wheatfield Under Thunderclouds,” a striking painting illustrating a dark, brooding sky and a golden wheatfield. When displayed on The Frame, the dramatic contrast captures the emotional intensity and turbulence that Van Gogh originally felt.

▲ “Wheatfield Under Thunderclouds” (1890)

Next, I’d recommend “Fishing Boats on the Beach at Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer.” The vibrant blue shades of the sea and sky juxtaposed against the colorful boats makes this painting ideal for The Frame. The screen’s ability to render vibrant colors brings the scene to life, enhancing the painting’s lively and dynamic nature.

▲ “Fishing Boats on the Beach at Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer” (1888)

My third pick would be “Landscape at Twilight,” a painting depicting a twilight sky and rural landscape. The Frame’s display accurately captures these subtle nuances in colors — making the idyllic piece a calming addition to any room.

▲ “Landscape at Twilight” (1890)

Preserving Legacy With Technology

Q: How has technology impacted the Van Gogh Museum since its opening in 1973?

Our mission is to inspire diverse audiences with the art and life of Vincent van Gogh, and we are always searching for new ways to do so. As such, we’ve incorporated new technologies both inside the museum and online to further preserve Van Gogh’s legacy for future generations.

Q: How does The Frame elevate the viewing experience of art?

The focus of the museum has always been to showcase our expansive Van Gogh collection. Offering this collection of masterpieces on The Frame gives users an opportunity to enjoy Vincent van Gogh’s world-famous paintings from home. Of course, we hope people will also be inspired to come and enjoy the art in person at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam as well.

Q: In December, Samsung Art Store will feature a curated Van Gogh collection called “Van Gogh in Winter.” What can viewers expect to see in this collection?

We are thrilled to bring a carefully crafted selection of artwork to Samsung Art Store. Each masterpiece — from the vivid “The Bedroom” to the serene “Snow-Covered Field with a Harrow (after Millet)” — encapsulates Van Gogh’s revolutionary use of color and emotive landscapes.

The “Van Gogh in Winter” collection offers a unique window into Van Gogh’s world, showcasing his evolution as an artist and his enduring impact on art history. We invite viewers to immerse themselves in these classic works and experience Van Gogh’s art in a new vibrant, digital format.

▲ “The Bedroom” (1888)

▲ “Snow-Covered Field with a Harrow (after Millet)” (1890)

Q: Are there any upcoming events at the museum?

Visitors can enjoy the special “Pokémon x Van Gogh Museum” activities in the museum until January 7, 2024. “Matthew Wong l Vincent van Gogh: Painting as a Last Resort” will then open in early March — a temporary exhibition inviting attendees to discover the colorful and expressive art of Matthew Wong and his artistic connection with Vincent van Gogh.

Visit Samsung Art Store in The Frame to see more of the Van Gogh collection.

Sotheby’s will offer a Diego Velázquez full-length portrait of Isabel de Borbón, queen of Spain and the first wife of Philip IV, for a princely $35mn in New York on February 1 2024. Its price tag — which would mark an auction record by far for the 17th-century painter — reflects the rarity of his court paintings on the public market as most remain in royal or museum collections.

The Sotheby’s work “disappeared” from Spain’s royal collection during Napoleon’s 1808 invasion and reappeared in France, says George Wachter, Sotheby’s co-chair of Old Master paintings. His colleague, Christopher Apostle, says of this work in particular, “Velázquez took inspiration from Rubens and created the Baroque language of Spain.”

The painting has been dated to the late 1620s, while Sotheby’s specialists note that its composition has similarities with a portrait of the king painted in 1631-32, in London’s National Gallery. 

Subsequent private owners include the banker and book collector Henry Huth, who bought the work in 1853 and in whose family it remained until 1950. The portrait is now being sold by a private family trust which has owned the work since 1978, Sotheby’s says. The auction house has guaranteed a price for the painting, more of a rarity in the Old Masters arena.

After a three-year break, the space-sharing gallery collaboration Condo London comes back in the new year for its sixth iteration (January 20-February 17). The event, which involves London galleries hosting overseas counterparts, “involves so much moving around, I wanted things to be as back to normal as possible after Covid,” says Vanessa Carlos, who runs Carlos/Ishikawa gallery and is Condo’s founder-organiser.

Since Carlos launched the project in 2016, it has inspired similar free-to-visit events in the UK capital, notably London Gallery Weekend, which began in 2021 and had 130-plus participants this year. Carlos describes Condo as a “completely different” initiative. “It’s about the cross-pollination of galleries, it’s not for profit and should be kept small so that visitors can spend more time discovering another [gallery’s] programme,” she says.

This year 49 galleries take part in 23 spaces, up from 36 in 17 back in 2020. Spread across London, the latest pairings including Beirut’s Marfa’ Projects in The Approach and Mexico City’s Pamela Weissenberg at mother’s tankstation limited. Carlos/Ishikawa’s gallery hosts Chapter NY and Vienna’s Galerie Kandlhofer.

Joining Condo next year is Emalin, which has doubled down in east London with a second gallery. Opening on January 13, co-founders Leopold Thun and Angelina Volk have secured the Clerk’s House, a 1735 building so quaint that its address is 118½ Shoreditch High Street, next to St Leonard’s church. “It will provide more of an intimate, experiential encounter than our other space, which is one large room [in a former factory]. In the Clerk’s House, people can meander from room to room,” Thun says.

Their opening exhibition, a group show of about a dozen artists including Alvaro Barrington and Sung Tieu, has work inspired by the history and nature of the building. During the 18th and 19th centuries, Volk says, guards used the house as a lookout for graveyard body-snatchers. “It’s on the precipice of a church ground and the secular world, its number has an in-betweenness about it and the works on show build on that,” she says. 

The gallery, which opened in 2016, has succeeded in bringing innovative and often complicated artists on to the scene. Its location, gentrifying fast, remains core: “We want to be part of the cultural fabric of the place we are in,” Volk says.

The Frieze art fair returns to its Santa Monica airport venue in Los Angeles for the second time next year, but organisers have decided against the experimental Barker Hangar section that housed 40 of its 124 exhibitors last time. “Having two locations, when you’re not crossing a beautiful park [as for the London fairs], can be a bit of a challenge,” says Christine Messineo, Frieze director of Americas.

A bit more room has been made on the main site, so the fair will have close to 100 exhibitors under one roof this time around, while the grounds outside the tent will house more installations, performances and “just more places for people to gather”, including restaurants, Messineo says. First-time participants in the fair next year include the galleries Bank and MadeIn from Shanghai.

A collection of 114 items of football-based art will be on sale through Bonhams online (December 4-13). The collection, assembled by the dealer Chris Beetles for a former chair of a Premier League team who wants to remain anonymous, was on view at his gallery last year, for sale as a whole and reportedly valued at £1.5mn. Now it comes as separate lots with a £260,000-£380,000 total estimate, priced to encourage pre-Christmas bidding. Beetles says that “the response from hundreds of enthusiasts was enormous, so we decided that the pictures should be offered to fans in this passionate market.”

The majority date from the 1920s-80s, with Arsenal the most represented team in the collection. Estimates range from £100-£150 for cartoons drawn by Roy Ullyett for the Daily Express in 1974 to £100,000-£150,000 for Charles Cundall’s painting of a 1926 FA Cup match between amateur team The Corinthians and Manchester City.

In his catalogue introduction, Beetles — a long-suffering Spurs fan — writes: “It is a rare event to find an original work of art featuring football . . . And so to Bonhams for the final away game; the players’ contracts are up and by December 13 the window closes and they will all have new owners.”

The collection can be seen at Bonhams, London between December 10-13.

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The 45th annual Holiday Market features pieces created by more than 100 artists from around Michigan. The market occupies the first floor of the Anton Art Center and runs until Dec. 23.

“Darleen Urbanek: Peaceful Moments” is the first solo exhibition of artist Darleen Urbanek, of Sterling Heights. Urbanek’s work highlights people, landscapes, animals and other scenes that reflect or inspire moments of peace.

Photo provided by Anton Art Center

MOUNT CLEMENS — It is not just you that is busy this time of year. The Anton Art Center is juggling two main events in December, hosting the solo exhibition debut of a Sterling Heights artist and the 45th annual Holiday Market.

“We’ve got over 100 artists featured this year,” said Phil Gilchrist, Anton Art Center executive director. “About 20% of those are new to the organization and to the market. We’re showcasing literal tons of items here for sale for the holidays, encompassing all kinds of stuff. Home decor, holiday decor, gift items, fine art, crafts, jewelry, fiber arts. … You name it, we probably have it.”

The market has evolved over its nearly half-century, going from showing items on shelves made from stacked wood planks and cinder blocks to having the resources and volunteers needed to run a professional retail operation.

“I give a lot of credit to the people in the beginning who had the forethought to pull this together,” Gilchrist said. “Over the years, it’s helped a lot of artists and it’s been a very important program for the Anton Art Center during that entire time. It really was all volunteers. Even today we rely on volunteers to pull it together and every year they do an incredible job, so we’re really happy and proud to have those folks involved here at the Anton Art Center and are thankful of all of the work that they do to bring this together every year.”

Moving up a floor from the market takes guests into the first-ever solo exhibition by artist Darleen Urbanek, of Sterling Heights. Titled “Darleen Urbanek: Peaceful Moments,” the show includes over 60 original works focusing on animals, people and landscapes that reflect moments of peace.

“Darleen’s work tends to be impressionistic,” Gilchrist said. “She really gets into the feeling of the work, and what she’s representing is less about having very specific details and being realistic and more about how the moment makes you feel.”

Urbanek says she has been painting since she was “old enough to hold a pencil,” honing her artistic skills outside of a formal classroom setting.

“I’ve never really had any formal training,” Urbanek said. “I was chosen as a gifted artist through the Detroit Public Schools back in grade school and my grandma used to take me on the bus down to the art museum for classes. Other than that, I’ve really just taken workshops and nothing really formal over the years. I might see an artist that I like so I would go take a workshop with them.”

Most of the paintings on display were made for “Peaceful Moments,” and those moved by Urbanek’s work will have the rare opportunity to bring it home with them.

“Darleen’s work is going to be sold on a cash-and-carry basis, which is kind of unusual for an exhibit,” Gilchrist said. “If anybody were to come here and be really interested in one of the pieces she created, they could buy it and take it home that same day.”

In case the whole exhibition sells out before its ends, Urbanek’s work can be found on sale in the Holiday Market.

Both the market and “Peaceful Moments” end on Saturday, Dec. 23. The Anton Art Center is under seasonal hours for December. The center is open on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. It’s closed on Monday. Admission to the center is free, and parking is free after 3 p.m. in Mount Clemens until Dec. 31.

More information about the Anton Art Center can be found at theartcenter.org.