Omar Opeyany
Contributing Writer
Walking on campus after class, I noticed something out of the ordinary. The message “Don’t Stop Resisting” greeted my feet. The chalk was faded, but the colors still caught my eye enough for me to stop and look. Many of us have bumped into colorful chalk art similar to what I saw around UC Santa Barbara (UCSB) or Isla Vista, more often in these past few months. Some are simple announcements or colorful artwork from student clubs doing outreach in their community. Still, many are political messages reminding us of the influence students have in sociopolitical movements. Regardless of the chalk art’s style or messaging, it remains a powerful medium for students that reminds us that campus is a place for expression.
While often associated with childhood play, chalk art holds a rich legacy as a tool of resistance and community expression. In movements such as Black Lives Matter and Occupy Wall Street, it has been a commonly used tool, and its messaging has been seen all over cities calling for justice or memorializing victims. Due to its impermanent nature, affordability, and ability to engage with the public, chalk art remains a useful medium for both self-expression and acts of resistance without permanent damage to the environment.
For UCSB students, chalk art can be seen as a reflection of the evolving nature of student activism. Messages may be washed away, but they often spark deeper conversations or inspire others to participate in student movements. This cycle of creation, erasure, and re-creation speaks to the resilience of campus activism itself. With each passing week, new chalk art appears, reminding everyone that students are keeping the issues important to them alive in the campus consciousness. During a time where many forms of activism are shifting to digital spaces, the simple act of drawing on a sidewalk with chalk serves as a reminder of the power of physical presence and communal art. Through chalk, UCSB activists are not just making statements; they are bringing people together, painting a campus canvas that invites everyone to get involved. Chalk art asks us to not forget issues that affect us, whether they are local, such as rising housing costs, or global issues, such as climate change.