Outside of Convocation Hall, Arianna Ophir (25C) began shading in a chalk drawing of Charlie Brown and Snoopy on a quiet March morning. Ophir, commonly known by her Instagram handle, everybodychalks, noted that the only thing preventing “perfect” chalking weather was the 60-degree weather that morning — a few degrees too cold for her. As Ophir chalked, a couple was walking their dog through Emory University’s campus and stopped to admire the half-finished sketch of Snoopy. After a few minutes of small talk, the woman realized that Ophir does these kinds of chalkings around campus often — and that she has seen her work countless times before.
“You’re famous!” the woman said.
These kinds of interactions happen often for Ophir. However, she insists she does not chalk for campus celebrity status, as evidenced by her Instagram anonymity. Ophir draws to remain connected to her craft amid college chaos — while she has always loved art, she feared her creative passions would be pushed aside in college as an Anthropology and Human Biology major.
“When I got to college, I didn’t think I would have time to be creative — especially as I was taking those harder core, preliminary STEM courses,” Ophir said. “Once I matriculated through those and finally did have time, it was the best thing ever. That’s when I really got my start with this.”
Ophir started the Everybody Chalks project and its subsequent social media account to spread joy throughout the Emory ecosystem in her free time.
“This is something that I really like to do,” Ophir said. “If it’s something that can make people’s day nicer in any way, it’s a nice thing to do.”
While Ophir identifies as an artist, she was reluctant to study the subject as she feared intellectualizing her art would lead to resentment. As such, she turned to the casual and creative medium of chalking, which reminds her of being a child. To Ophir, the act of chalking is less serious and has lower stakes than creating more permanent art.
“I just like [chalking] the most because you can play and it’s forgiving — you can erase,” Ophir said. “Because when you have a canvas, it feels more official. Right now, I feel like a child, like a kid. It doesn’t matter.”
Despite the intricacies of her final products, Ophir completed this Charlie Brown and Snoopy design in just over an hour and with little preparation.
“All I know is I work from the top to the bottom and other than that, there’s not really a set way of going about things,” Ophir said. “I really like the freedom that comes with it.”
Since creating Everybody Chalks, Ophir has created over 30 little masterpieces around Emory’s campus. These chalkings usually depict children’s cartoon characters, such as Curious George, Spongebob and Garfield. The drawings are always accompanied by a caption, usually song lyrics from Ophir’s favorite artists, like Simon & Garfunkel or Elton John.
Ophir’s drawing from March 22 was reminiscent of the first drawing she posted on her Everybody Chalks Instagram, with both art pieces featuring Charlie Brown on the concrete outside of Convocation Hall. With a vibrant pink background and portraits of Charlie Brown and Linus, the first post’s caption reads, “Caring is the coolest thing I’ve ever seen anyone do.” While the Charlie Brown cast has appeared multiple times in her work, Ophir is inspired by a variety of cartoon characters.
“Something that’s really important to Ari is her love of cartoons,” Rachel Goldberg (25C), Ophir’s roommate, said. “Mixing her favorite cartoons in her childhood with these positive messages is something that’s really special to her.”
Alex Vasilakopoulos (25C), one of Ophir’s friends, thinks her chalkings' youthful nature speaks to viewers. Engaging with Ophir’s art evokes memories of viewers’ childhoods, according to Vasilakopoulos.
“What I like about it the most is really just the idea of trying to embrace everyone’s inner child and really to bring back that childhood naivete,” said Vasilakopoulos. “Just because you’re an adult now, everyone was a child once, you still have that youth and that playfulness. And it really helps to remind everyone of that.”
While Ophir never intended to take over campus with her art or become an Emory celebrity, Goldberg said that watching her roommate's chalkings gain notoriety has been a “magical experience.”
“When she first started it, she was talking to me and our other roommates about it and saying that it was mostly just a form of expression for her and a way for her to get that artistic fulfillment,” Goldberg said. “But it’s really turned into something that spreads positivity all over campus, which is so cool, and that’s something she hoped for, but not something she necessarily expected.”
Over the past decade, Emory community members have used chalk to engage in politics, even garnering national attention. Throughout the last year Emory community members have used chalk as a means of political protest and expression on Emory’s campus, especially regarding the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Yet, Ophir keeps her work apolitical.
“Chalk is a really unique form of expression in that you can literally do anything you want, but it’s not gonna last forever,” Ophir said. “So, I don’t mind political chalkings. I just don’t want people to think it’s me. This is meant for everybody, regardless of political ideology.”
Ophir’s belief that her chalk drawings should be for everyone also motivates her to keep her Instagram account anonymous — she wants people to focus their attention on her art rather than herself. Although she knows people can walk by and find her chalking, she still believes in the sanctity of widespread anonymity.
“Removing myself from [the account] makes it more about what I’m doing as opposed to who I am,” Ophir said. “When I’m out here, it takes one or two hours. The art stays out here for usually a couple days at least and it exists a lot longer than I exist.”
Despite her anonymity, people still reach out to Ophir to commission her for their organizations. People across Emory have asked Ophir to create special chalk designs for them. Individuals have even requested designs for their romantic partners.
“I’ve gotten cool opportunities from it,” Ophir said. “People have asked me to design advertising for their businesses; people have asked me to illustrate their books.”
While Everybody Chalks is a solo venture, Ophir hopes Emory students will continue the project’s work after she graduates. While she has not found anyone to pass the torch to yet, she believes that the childlike nature of chalking ensures that anyone can pick up the craft and help cultivate positivity on campus.
“I hope that I can find someone to take the reins and do it on campus,” Ophir said. “Maybe start ‘Emory Chalks.’”
After graduation, Ophir hopes to work as a cosmetic scientist, combining her passions for STEM and art. In New York City, where she is planning on moving, chalking on the ground is illegal. However, Ophir is not entirely discouraged.
“I’m going to chalk until I get in trouble,” she said.
As Ophir finished her chalking of Charlie Brown, she got up, collected her belongings and took a picture of her drawing before walking away. Despite the artist’s anonymity, the work remains a testament to the power of public art on campus, leaving little drops of optimism for all passersby to find.
