Before I Die...

Candy Chang's installation Before I Die transforms neglected spaces into constructive ones where we can learn the hopes and aspirations of the people around us. With help from friends and neighbors, Candy turned the side of an abandoned house in her neighborhood into a giant chalkboard where they can express their wishes and dreams.

Once the wall is filled, the board is washed down and the neighbourhood starts with a clean slate again. Responses were documented and some will be included in a book.

The response has been overwhelming. Candy hopes that the project will continue to expand to other cities and grow for years to come. She plans to create a kit with a how-to guide and large one-column stencil that will make it easy to reproduce.

The answers record and evoke a range of emotions. Some seem funny or trivial; others are meaningful and touching. Some seem to be melancholy or regretful. Some seem unrealistic, and others point out the value of the things we take for granted.

Before I Die is a perfect example of how art can work with the design of public spaces to create better interaction between the residents of communities, making them better places to live.

Here's the link to her site: http://candychang.com/before-i-die-in-nola/