"In the future, everyone will be famous for 15 people."
Of course, there is the infamous Andy Warhol quote "In the future, everyone will be famous for 15 minutes" that this is playing from. So it may be that Steve's take on the quote stuck because of this (my last name is Campbell, after all, and one of the benefits is making cool Warhol-like signs for my room featuring Soup Cans). But I think it stood out because it is probably true.
Andy Warhol was before his time when he coined the concept "15 minutes of fame." With endless hours of Reality TV and Youtube and ridiculous meme's, it is quite possible for everyday people to become famous and usually that fame passes by as quickly as it came (and re-emerges over again because nothing ever goes away on the internet).
With social media tools like Twitter, Blogs, Nings, and more, Steve is definitely onto something when he says everyday ordinary people will be famous for others. I even thought about conversations I have had with Visual Arts teachers when I present or go to conferences. I will throw out a name I consider to be famous, but is not necessarily the case for others.
Then I wondered if those people even know that I view them as famous. Some of them I consider to be good friends due to the years of discourse exchanged online, others I admire from afar and enjoy their points of view and hope they continue to share and contribute to the group.
So, here are 3 #artsed people who are famous for me (although there are many more out there). I have been able to get to know them through venues like Twitter, but have long admired their work in the field of education and use of technology in the art room - whether they know it or not, each has had a profound impact in my classroom by paving the way and being exemplar models in their own. Maybe they are famous for you, too. If not, you should check them out (or not, it is totally up to you).
3. Ian Sands - This teacher is constantly coming up with stuff that makes me mad. It makes me mad because I did not think of it first! He finds the right kind of balance between being serious about work and having fun in the process. His class blog/website is a go-to place for me and my students when we are looking to be inspired. He is a great teacher, author, and hockey player (well, I am just guessing on the last one) and he is not afraid to share what he does with others.
2. Craig Roland - Without his guy, there would not be www.arted20.ning.com - this site is responsible for all of the AMAZING connections I have made with Art teachers including numerous successful ATC swaps with schools from different states and countries. My students have been able to participate in great initiatives from The Student Creative (and David Gran and Matt Cauthron) which posts for participants via the Ning. I am thankful for his passion and vision in creating spaces where teachers can connect and their students benefit as a result.
1. Tricia Fuglestad - As someone I have never met in person, she has probably had the most impact on my classroom than anyone I have met face to face. She helped me propose a technology package that brought computers and programs into my classroom (and this was before we had even "met" online). Her work in her class inspired me to start a blog, build a webpage, and use student created videos as teaching tools in my classroom. She is the one who pushed me onto Twitter and the result has opened many doors for me to grow and help others in the process. I am in debt to this woman for all of the resources she has thrown my way and I hope to get to meet her in person for the first time this year.
So, here is the challenge - if someone has done something for you that you admire or like or love or has changed your life and made them a celebrity in your book, let them know. They probably have no idea the type of impact they have had and since life is a bunch of passing moments you can't get back, tell them before it is too late. If Steve is right, the chances are that you are probably famous for someone else, too...