The project was started in New Orleans by artist Candy Chang who was suffering from depression after the death of someone close to her. She pained the side of her house and stenciled it with the words “Before I Die.”
Not only did the wall fill up with thoughts from neighbors, but it became an Internet sensation, and the wall has now been created in over 70 countries and 35 languages. It is now on its way as a permanent installation in Hamilton.
“We travel a lot, my husband and kids, and we try to find neat places to go,” Sarah Capehart said. “I saw this ‘Before I Die’ project going up in Pittsburgh and that’s how I became familiar with it. We never made it to the wall, but I became interested in and followed it since then. We wanted to do something to the side of our place here and fix it up and I thought this would be the perfect thing to do.”
Sarah and her husband wanted to add to the artist renaissance going on in the city and they felt this project would be perfect to help beautify the city.
“Before I Die” is an interactive artwork that allows anyone to write his or her dreams on a public space. Hamilton’s “Before I Die” wall will be located at the corner of Millville and Edgewood avenues. Beginning today, residents are invited to contribute to the wall.
“We are expecting anywhere from 100 to 300 visitors Saturday to stop by the event,” said Hamilton resident Alicia Wellinghoff, who has helped to make the art project a reality.
Former Hamilton resident Katherine Hatcher, 25, a first year graduate student pursuing a Ph.D. in Neuroscience at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, heard about the project and couldn’t wait to phone home about it.
“I think that residents of Hamilton are really trying to revive the city in a creative way — it seems with a lot of art projects, festivals and beautification projects,” she said. “I think the more Hamilton has projects like this, the more that people will see the city as a creative and neighborly environment.”
For the Hamilton installation, residents will be able to use chalk to add their dreams to the wall. Sarah Capehart said she plans to take photos of the wall and post them online every few weeks before the rain or other elements wash away the sentiments of those who participate.
“Sometimes there are silly responses, but often you have the opportunity to really get to know your neighbor and understand their aspirations,” Hatcher said.
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