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Fifteen Minutes of Flavor leads to Fifteen Minutes of Fame

Columbus, OH (September 5, 2008) – Van Gogh is famous for Starry Night; Monet is famous for his unprecedented skill with the rendering of landscapes; Michelangelo is famous for the Creation of Adam; Ben Harben is famous for his bubblegum portraits of reality television stars.

Ben Harben, a 30-year-old Columbus local, doesn't use a paintbrush to create his works of art. Rather, his preferred tool is chewed bubblegum used to create portraits of reality television stars that represent their fleeting role in today's society.

"Each star's likeness has been ‘chewed up and spit out' in ordinary bubble gum on canvas," said Harben. "With reality television stars seeming to be the ‘flavor of the month,' I've decided to highlight their 15 minutes of fame with bubblegum portraits in their image. Bubblegum is a lot like reality television stars, 15 minutes and the flavor's gone."

For 10 years Harben, an interactive creative services manager with SBC Advertising, has been at work "inducting" members into what he calls the Bubblegum Society. He has added reality television stars such as Ruben Studdard from "American Idol", Yoanna House from "America's Next Top Model", and Paris Hilton from "The Simple Life." Harben has achieved a certain degree of national – and international – fame, himself.

The Seoul Broadcasting System (SBS) heard about Harben's interesting talent and came to Columbus to film him at work for their popular show, "Wild Wonderful World", as he made a bubblegum portrait of the show's host. Harben's co-workers contributed to the segment by helping Harben chew some of his artistic tools. Watched by approximately 25 percent of North and South Korea's combined population, "Wild Wonderful World" is planning to air its coverage of Harben in late September.

"We are very proud of the creative recognition our employees receive both inside and outside of the office," said David Dennis, president of SBC Advertising. "Ben is just one example of the talented leaders we have at SBC Advertising."

For more information on Ben Harben and his Bubblegum Society, visit www.bubblegumsociety.com.