‘Before-I-die-I-want-to’ wall launches in Toronto
Posted September 24, 2012 2:10 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A Before I Die I Want To art project has found some wall space in the city’s west end.
The chalkboard wall, which begins with the phrase “Before I die I want to …” and lets anonymous participants finish the sentence with their hopes and dreams, has found a home at the southwest corner of Dufferin Street and Queen Street West.
“It is such a simple yet powerful way to add vibrancy in a community,” Melissa Ip, the organizer of the Toronto project, said in a release. “You get to see the dreams of others and be inspired. Then perhaps take some time to focus on what’s important to you, write it down, and act on it.”
The interactive art project was conceived by American artist Candy Chang, who turned the side of an abandoned house in her New Orleans neighbourhood into a giant chalkboard and allowed people to write about their wishes anonymously.
In May Ip told CityNews in an email that she was inspired by Chang to create a wall here. She contacted the local BIA in the Trinity-Bellwoods neighbourhood and the Toronto Public Space Initiative to help find the space.
There are 46 walls in 17 countries now taking part in the art initiative with plans for others around the world. Other Canadian walls are in Montreal, Vancouver and Winnipeg.
Of the responses on the walls, about 15 per cent want to travel to a distant land, 10 per cent want to reconnect with family, two per cent just want to get rich and one per cent wants to write a book.
The developer of Q Loft, Royal Queen Developments, donated a portion of their hoarding for the Toronto project, which is being carried out by Ip and a group of Toronto residents.
What message would you leave? Add them in the comments below.
