Hogwarts successful application

We Play Nice. We Clean Up Our Own Mess.
United Focus in a choreographed undrilled de-composition.

Sign O' the Times, Sign on the Board. We're not done yet, I have fantastic shots of some young helpers making their marks on the Big Chalkboard on Monday as they were passing by to picnic in the park.

The Sign is posted for all to see. The Gig's up! In the next few days we'll be dismantling the board for a clean, groom, manicure and short vacation whilst we negotiate the whereabouts of its next appearance.

NEWS FLASH
Yesterday 18th of February Leandro Palacio's ABC OPEN video clip of Jude & I and the Launceston Before I Die Big Chalkboard appeared on the front page of the Before I Die International Site:
Before I die site http://beforeidie.cc/ has placed your video on the front page and is on their FB too https://www.facebook.com/BeforeIDieWall
Please check it out.

I'm currently assembling photos for their records. If you have any interesting photos you've taken and would like them to be included please forward them to me at beforeidie.launceston@gmail.com.
I'll also share some of them on this site and our Facebook page.

POSTCARDS from the edge

For some strange reason the top pick of our team is PEDRO the changeling

The anti-art funding came close

Most people seem to possess a kindness to themselves and others

And of course who wouldn't want Abs

Cultured spanish speaking pacifists

Our boards have been multicultural in expression, though I don't know whose x this was, perhaps they sneezed

Make a Difference, positively

Discourage fighting's good, save a life

polite advice with the condoms, without the condemnation

more multicultural conversations

My personal favourite, see Mayan Temples

RANDOM COMMENTS

Making Space/Expanding the Universe

"But there's plenty of room," said Alice

Unknown Hobart Photographer stopping to take photographs of board commentaries to share with friends and family down south.

Last Thursday, 30th of January exactly a week after our opening, the Board was full.

Over a 192 spaces had been filled with thoughts, dreams, aspirations and the odd obscenity or three.

Jude and I cleaned off every second space to allow the community conversation to continue.

Whilst we were there, two local gentleman returning, turned away from a sold out Aurora Stadium popped by to read, ponder and discuss the board and its messages, insisting on leaving gold coin contributions and congratulating us on the good work. By Saturday the board had again reached almost capacity, documenting and cleaning some more spaces, we'll do another alternate large clean on Wednesday. Currently turning some of the more interesting chalk marks into postcards to redistribute as promotion for the project and as thanks for the the encouragement of many of our passing locals and tourists for their positive engagement. 

Candy Chang TED Talk

http://www.ted.com/talks/candy_chang_before_i_die_i_want_to.html

A little history and insight to this  project, the inspiring Candy Chang

Some recent posts on the Launceston Before I Die project. Please come and share your thoughts on the big chalkboard on Boland Street

The Kindness of Strangers

Warning rather unsavoury comments on our board if you are easily offended don't look at the first photo

but as with all of life the good goes with the bad. 

Hobbled up the street Friday morning to clean off some offensive comments from the board, after a few complaints. Struggling to clean the board with a kitchen sponge and my crutch, when along came a nice little family visiting from Sydney, who offered to help. Father has daughter climb onto his shoulders so she can clean off the board while Mother holds her steady, seemingly unconcerned that she is being exposed to this offensiveness. 

Very refreshing positive attitude to life take the good with the bad and don't dwell on the bad things get your sponge out and clean it off. 

Fathers comments that what we were doing here is ' this is what it is all about' 

Permission to use these photos was granted by smartphone message from Gundagai 

Chris up a Ladder

Our trusty volunteer Chris the Canadian transplant up a ladder, after all this time construction is moving ahead quickly.

Loitering with Intent

A little bit about what we are doing on Boland Street:

Before I Die is a global, community-orientated public art project

originally initiated by Candy Chang in New Orleans.

Launceston Artists Jude Maslin and Anthony Rienits were inspired by

Candy’s TED talk and felt that the Project would have benefits within  their local community.

After finding a suitable vacant property, the owners were contacted

and permission was obtained to construct the project on site.

The initial project is located on a busy thoroughfare, Boland Street,

Launceston, between a large Centrelink services centre and a hotel

(formerly the Hub) on the corner of Tamar Street.

Large Blackboards will be constructed on the building façade with ‘Before I Die’ and lines stenciled on them for participants to express themselves using chalk available in baskets on site. 

The Project will be launched at 5.30pm on Thursday 23^rd January and will run for approximately a month.  Passersby will be encouraged to share their thoughts, feelings, aspirations and most importantly understanding  towards each other and  the richly diverse Launceston community.

Based on the review and documented success of the initial project, we will be endeavouring to continue the project with the involvement of other regional communities within Tasmania.

Bofore I Die,  Launceston is sponsored by Tas Regional Arts

As Candy says; “remembering what is important to us, understanding our neighbours and improving the well being of our communities and ourselves.” 

Construction Begins

At last, construction of the Big Chalkboard has begun, we are so excited about this project. A nice cool day here in Launceston for our fantastic builder Roger after last weeks heatwave conditions.

Before I die TED Talk

The TED talk that inspired this community art project from the wonderful Candy Chang

http://on.ted.com/Chang

Grand Opening

Grand Opening this Thursday January 23 at Boland Street Launceston, located between Centrelink and the Pub 5.30pm start.

Take up your chalk and write, share your thoughts, aspirations, feelings… your visions for the future. Come and celebrate life.