Before I Die I Want To ...

BEFORE

AFTER

One month and seven hours of intense stenciling later and it’s up! With a lot of support from old and new friends, I turned the side of an abandoned house in my neighborhood into a giant chalkboard where residents can write on the wall and remember what is important to them in life. Before I Die transforms neglected spaces into constructive ones where we can learn the hopes and aspirations of the people around us. It turns out this entire process (including official approval from many entities) has been a great lesson, experience, and project in itself – more on that later. If you’re in New Orleans, stop by the corner of Marigny and Burgundy (900 Marigny Street) to add your thoughts to the wall and see what matters most to your neighbors. It’s a question that has changed me in the last year, and I believe the design of our public spaces can better reflect what’s important to us as residents and as human beings. The responses and stories from passersby while we were installing it have already hit me hard in the heart. More installations to come. Huge thanks to Kristina Kassem, Alan Williams, Cory Klemmer, Anamaria Vizcaino, James Reeves, Alex Vialou, and Gary Hustwit for installation assistance and many others for support along the way! Concurrently installed in East/West Galleries.
Update Feb 26, 2011 – Wow. Check out the wall of responses after one day! Photo strip here.



Update March 6, 2011 - And after three days:


Once the wall is filled, we wash the board with water and start with a clean slate again. We are documenting all responses and some will be included in a book. A project site is in the works. I have received many requests from people who’d like to install it in their city, so we’re looking into ways to manufacture an affordable stencil (I made this one by hand. It is a lot of cutting). Stay tuned!



Update March 16, 2011 – This out-of-pocket project now has a pocket thanks to the Black Rock Arts Foundation! It will make a huge difference, thank you.