Candy Chang is a public installation artist, designer, urban planner, and co-founder of Civic Center who likes to make cities more comfortable for people. One day she thought to herself, “It’s easy to get caught up in the ‘day-to-day’ and forget what really matters to you.” With help from friends and neighbors, she turned the side of an abandoned house in her neighborhood into a giant chalkboard to invite people to share what is important to them.
Before I Die transforms a neglected space into a constructive one where we can learn the hopes and aspirations of the people around us. 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 discover what matters most to your neighbors.
Candy – “It’s a question that changed me over the last year after I lost someone I loved very much. I also 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. Concurrently installed in East/West Galleries. I’ve received an incredible response to this project (thank you!) and many things are in development including a project website, more installations, a book, and a kit with a stencil and how-to guide (fill out part of this form if you want to be notified when it’s ready).”
Made with primer, chalkboard paint, stencils, spray paint, chalk. Self-initiated with permission from the property owner, residents of the block, the neighborhood association’s blight committee, the Historic District Landmarks Commission, the Arts Council, and the City Planning Commission. February 2011
Update June 23, 2011: The wall is still up, the DIY kit is in the works, and we’re going to install another wall in the great wide open. Tell us where!
