Life + Times

Writing’s On the Wall

04.27.2011

ART & DESIGN

Prev Next

before-i-die-3 copy

"Before I Die" by Candy Chang

Before-I-Die-27 copy

"Before I Die" by Candy Chang

Before-I-die-48 copy

"Before I Die" by Candy Chang

before-i-die-03232 copy

"Before I Die" by Candy Chang

before-i-die-chalk1 copy

"Before I Die" by Candy Chang

before-i-die-house-shot copy

"Before I Die" by Candy Chang

before-i-die-pirate copy

"Before I Die" by Candy Chang

before-i-die-writings copy

"Before I Die" by Candy Chang

Death can inspire life. Especially in New Orleans, on the corner of Marigny and Burgundy, where the “Before I Die” project has used the specter of urban decay and death to create art and inspire. Using a boarded up house as a canvas, artist Candy Chang transformed a haunting reminder of blight and divestment into a powerful affirmation of human life and imagination.

The project is entitled “Before I Die”, and encourages community members to fill in the blank, “Before I die, I want to _______.” The responses range from, “save a life,” to “learn to play mandolin,” but all are personal dreams, that together comprise a document of the community’s aspirations. “Once the wall is filled, we wash the board with water and start with a clean slate again,” says Chang. Made with only primer, chalkboard paint, stencils, spray paint, and chalk, the project proves that art doesn’t need to be elaborate; it just needs to speak to people.

Unfortunately, the house on which the “Before I Die” installation was mounted was recently sold, so the living art project is looking for a new home. Chang wants to find another location in her native New Orleans, but has been amazed that so many people across the country have requested it in their cities too.

While it’s Chang’s framework that created the project, it’s been people’s participation that has made it successful, and with requests pouring in from other cities, the wall appears endless. (Candy Chang)

http://www.facebook.com/freshseth Seth Stephens

Genius.
http://twitter.com/TobiasvRooijen Tobias van Rooijen

Beautifull
http://www.facebook.com/novaghost STar Nova Nova

Before I die.. I want to be Complety Happy and free………!!!
http://www.facebook.com/people/Ehler-Stegmann/1554586732 Ehler Stegmann

kiss this one girl.
Anonymous

Before I die I want to write what I want to do “Before I die” on that wall..

Andy WarHOV
http://www.facebook.com/captain85 Henderson Vaughan

Before I Die…I would like to Stop Bullying and Teen Violence because everybody future depends on our Youth .Let’s Help them , pass it on . Captain85
http://www.facebook.com/captain85 Henderson Vaughan

Great job , art is important .
http://twitter.com/sosnobbish kia

Before for I die I hope I’m ready
http://profiles.google.com/lifeofbrian08 Brian Clarke

before i die i want to…go in Space.
http://twitter.com/DraganBarisic Dragan Barisic

Before I die I want to love you again.
http://twitter.com/DraganBarisic Dragan Barisic

Before I die I want to love you again.
Anonymous

before i die i want to bring god back to earth. And i want to make out with shawn in the shower. xoxo
http://www.facebook.com/blem85 Brandon Lem

Before i die i want to Meet Beyonce
http://www.facebook.com/AhyashCoutour Steven Ova

before i die i want all my dreams to come true
Anonymous

Amazing Inspiration! Thanks for this post! Before I die I want to ……. Hmmmm, so many things come to mind!

-Kev champion
Anonymous

cruise the Mediterranean coastline of the southeast corner of France in a bodacious private yacht!
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_S36D3STNIW5DZI6ETST6M2TDCU Andrea Cheff

Before I die I want to meet Jay Z>
http://www.facebook.com/people/Storm-Child/100002269879181 Storm Child

Before I die I want the world to know that I the true six finger queen. Full of honor and respect. I am Omer the Barber Braid Stylist of Detroit
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=586050598 Jacky Johnson

Lpve this post….beautifully written!
http://twitter.com/coo1hand1uke Coolhand Luke

Before I die I want to make Oakland, CA a more loving and hopeful city
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=2508409 Lukas Brekke-Miesner

Thanks for all the love yall!

Before I die I want to do see strangers respectfully greeting each other in passing. Looking at your phone or mugging is bootsy. You can’t build community in a bubble of apathy, selfishness or fear. Say hello and smile. It will feel good and return dividends
http://twitter.com/Oaklandism No Drugs

well written – @oaklandism
http://twitter.com/JAYFANon2thenxt Sarah

Before I die I want to travel the world and meet Jayonce.
http://twitter.com/just_rule Ruslan

before i die.. i want to find my love
http://twitter.com/jai1986 AjiE jAY-z cARteR

before i die, i want to meet Jay-z
http://twitter.com/StopItChar Charlotte

It’s funny how a simple artistic gesture; can bring life to a community that is plagued with hopelessness by others who don’t understand it, a voice to those who may never see it, and expression to those who may never feel. Since “We are a product of our environment” let’s change it! Hold your city, county, and state elected officials accountable.
http://twitter.com/softjunebreeze Stephanie V.

Dope concept. Great execution.
http://www.facebook.com/Teampriscillawilnis Priscilla Wilnis

This is a very serious concept to me because ,its show me how carefree humanity is using the concept of dead wich is a very serious matter..

Before i die i wish my spirit to be right with God and make it to heaven.
Anonymous

Before I die, I want to know that I will never be forgotten.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=536825142 Stacey Childof Jah Morrison

Before i day ill do all i can to live for ever
http://www.myblackeverything.com Bruce Wayne

Before I die I want to live.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_KWB4BG4IKQPJMZDRMYPFW5RJW4 Mariana

Before I die I want to …be able to say I made a difference in the world : )
Anonymous

I’m missing it on this one. I don’t like it. It’s looks too somber and it’s not original. I’m not hating on it, not at all, it’s something we all think about and was intended to be a positive for the community. But what is a plan or idea? It’s something we’d like to do before we die right? So we all make/have these everyday.

I think to be original, to be real, to spark change and positive reaction it should have been the “I’m alive today so I’m gonna………” wall. This encourages real thought, change, positive effects in the community; it sparks the idea that today I am given, but tomorrow I may not be. It sparks immediacy and I think that is what most of us need.

Just my thoughts.
Anonymous

Before I die I want to Change The Planet Through Hip HOP.
Anonymous

This is great! This actually inspired me for my class that I teach a parenting class at the Lehigh Valley prison. I am going to assigned it to them for homework.
Anonymous

Before I die I want to live to the fullest.
http://twitter.com/MissLaPaix Miss Lapaix

This is AMAZING. Before I die..I MUST Inspire.
http://www.facebook.com/meazymr617 Mark CelticgreentilIdie Fortes

This piece is dope on many levels. good lookin HOV. Before I Die I wanna write on that wall
http://www.facebook.com/jean.saget Jean Saget

This is good living,that how i would like to leave this earth when im gone !!!
http://twitter.com/cheleny Michelle

This is a really inspiring project.
http://www.facebook.com/traceypq Tracey Picquet

Before I die I want to do the God well
http://www.facebook.com/traceypq Tracey Picquet

Before I die I want to do God well
Anonymous

Before I die I want to see the end of Human Traficking
Anonymous

Before I die I want to do a reading for GP !!!
http://www.facebook.com/paulmarcusb Marcus Braithwaite

I won’t die!. We only die because we think we have too. Well maybe, we’ll see.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_WI5QOHDRJGO3QQOL75DD6GVKUA Whozdat

Before I Die…I want to peace and happiness to all my loved ones.
http://twitter.com/JeesSantos Jessica Santos

Before I die I want to love you and be loved by you
http://twitter.com/michael_wtf Michael Billingslea

Before I die I want to feel something.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=511413349 Tianyu Tang

Before I die I want to love and give back to people who loved me and helped me.
Denise Waters

I WANT TO KNOW PEACE
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_D4JDU4ASDCPXTIYGYBQRBVGKSY Kelly

Before I die, I want to find a cure for cancer. This disease is claiming so many lives.
Anonymous

I want to help all the young souls reach prosperity..Everyone has worth, sometimes they need a loving soul to guide them to it……
http://twitter.com/ealvarezpuertas Elisa AlvarezPuertas

Love this picture and the concept. Can I share it on my blog if I link to you?
Blessings, Elisa
http://www.facebook.com/danl420us Daniel Lim

Before I die… I want no regrets in life