Before I die...

Before I die I want to…

sing for millions, see my daughter graduate, eat a salad with an alien, see the leaves change many times, be someone’s cavalry, straddle the International Date Line, cook a souffle, hold her one more time, make it in the hip hop, help numerous children, see what I’m like as an old man, tell my mother I love her, make peace with Ohio, abandon all insecurities, be completely myself, evaporate into the light…

Source

I stumbled onto this art project by Candy Chang just after Christmas and I was blown away!

I've always had a soft spot for projects which are fully integrated into communities, but for some reason this one really grabs me. Maybe it's because deep-down I really wish I could stumble across something like this in real life.

There's such a palpable sense of hope in some of the writings & who doesn't love scribbling with chalk! Let's not forget that this art project started on a derelict house in New Orleans. The birthplace of Jazz and a city ranked highly on my 'Before I die' List! Those hopes and dreams garnered by the Orleans community have inspired Walls across the world AND could come to a town near YOU!

I'll be honest. I'm thinking of signing up for a Before I Die Toolkit. I asked MrR what he thought of the project, his response was "Knowing people round here, someone would nick the chalk." Sadly, he's probably right. But isn't that exactly the point? Chalk can be replaced & the wall can be washed and renewed. The voices can continue to be heard. Those dreams can continue to inspire & engage. In an area where someone's idea of a good time is nicking chalk - The community needs a Wall.