News
“Figurine Fairy” Spreads Anonymous Joy
By: Abby Grisez
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People with keen eyes are finding small moments of joy in unexpected places around Ohio University. Small clay figures are popping up all over the Radio Television Building, Schoonover, and even inside the WOUB newsroom. They range from animals, to cartoon characters, to inanimate objects.
The thing is the artist who makes them is a mystery. Media specialist Claire Berlin enjoys the anonymity.
“I like not knowing who’s doing this because it could be anyone I’m talking to at any time,” she said. “I think it’s just really special and magical not to know who it is.”
Erin Roberts, the Director of Communication for the Scripps College, agrees.
“If they want to remain anonymous, I think that’s awesome,” she said. “I just hope that they know that they’re appreciated and that it’s brought some fun and joy to our workplace.”
People around WOUB began calling the anonymous sculptor the “Figurine Fairy.” We managed to get in touch with “The Figurine Fairy” but they wanted to remain anonymous. However, they were willing to answer some questions via email.
The “Figurine Fairy” said they were shocked to see such a positive response to their creations, and had expected to find them smashed to pieces.
“The world can be a mean and ugly place that will chew you up if you let it,” the artist said. “I know that I’m not the only person out there who has experienced the dark part of life and wanted to give others something to smile about.”
The “Figurine Fairy: has given Paula Linscott, a student success advisor in the Scripps College of Communication, something to smile about. Paula, Erin, Claire, and other figurine finders keep a collection of them on their desks at work.
“Every single one of them has a special meaning because it connects with something in my life…I get the sense that this person is truly just doing this to make people happy,” she said.
Paula said this is an example of one person making a difference by spreading joy and kindness. According to Dr. David Hamilton, author of Why Kindness is Good For You, kindness makes people happier, healthier, and is contagious.
“I think because I see and I feel all the hard parts of life and all the hard parts of existing in this world, I need something special and positive,” Linscott said. “And so I look for that every day. And it’s really comforting that sometimes I don’t have to look for it. It literally just- I’m walking and there it is. I don’t have to try and find joy. Like someone’s giving it to me. So I think that what this person is doing is really, really powerful.”
Listen to the audio version of this story that aired on The OUtlet here: