What do you want to do before you die? It’s an interesting question to pair with a complete makeover of one of Philly's educational landmarks. Over the past several months, Drexel University invited globetrotting artist
Candy Chang to pose it as buildings at 38th and Powelton Streets were demolished.
Last summer,
Drexel University City Development, LLC, in partnership with
Wexford Science & Technology, LLC, bought the 14-acre site that housed the former University City High School, the Charles Drew Elementary School and the Walnut Center. According to a June 2014
statement from Drexel, the planned complex will total over 2.7 million square feet, with uses ranging from a new public school to residential, retail, recreational, laboratory and office space. The projected budget is almost $1 billion.
"It marks the end of one life and the beginning of another," says Chang of Drexel’s invitation to create one of her signature installations around the demolition site: Long chalkboard walls inscribed with line upon line following the words "Before I die I want to."
The designer and urban planner created her first "
Before I Die" installation on a vacant building in New Orleans in 2011, and since then, with templates available to fans around the world, over 500 similar projects have sprouted up in 70 countries.
The University City site’s installation went up last fall, and it came down last week following the New Orleans-based Taiwanese-American artist’s April 30 lecture at Drexel: "
Better Cities: Transforming Public Spaces Through Art & Design."
"The installation encourages people to pause and take a closer look at this space in transition," explains Chang.
In her process, she met with Powelton Village and Mantua community members to hear about the role the site played in their lives.
"One woman cried when she shared her memories of children who once went to that school," recalls the artist.
People have been sharing what they want to do before they die all over the walls of the installation. A few of Chang’s favorites include "drop all self-judgments" and "fix hearts I’ve broken."
"I also enjoyed some of the mashups of crude and contemplative responses. It reflects the gamut of humanity," she adds. Chang calls the installation a "personal anonymous prompt" which is "a gentle first step towards honesty and vulnerability in public," and increases trust and understanding in a community.
"These are essential elements for a more compassionate city, which can not only help us make better places but can help us become our best selves," she insists.
Writer: Alaina Mabaso
Source: Candy Chang, “Before I Die”