An eight by twelve wall has been installed in Seward’s Harbor as part of a national project which invites people to reflect on their lives and bring awareness to a variety of social issues.
McDivitt: “To raise awareness actually on underage drinking and drug use, domestic violence and suicide, alcohol related accidents, bullying and stuff like that and we’re asking people before they make comments on the wall what they want to do before they die to keep in mind the people who have been lost to those different addictions and battles they faced everyday.”
Dawn McDivitt is the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Coordinator at SeaView Community Services in Seward.
The “Before I Die” walls are part of a national project that was created in New Orleans by artist Candy Chang who created the first wall on an abandoned house in her neighborhood after losing a loved one and going through a deep depression.
The walls are black with the phrase “Before I die I want to *blank*” stenciled on repeatedly and more than 200 walls have sprung up in over 15 languages and in over 40 countries, including Kazakhstan, Argentina, China, Italy, Israel, Thailand, and South Africa.
McDivitt partnered with Seward Prevention Coalition Coordinator Katie Cornwell and Lt. Doreen Valadez of the Seward Police Department to contact the project, order the kit, and create the space.
The wall was installed at 1:30 pm on Monday and by 6:30 pm the wall of 70 plus lines was full. McDivitt said the huge response was all positive.
McDivitt: “We’re really excited that it’s taken hold like this and embraced it, we’re going to try to get out this week and try to interview some people putting comments on the wall to try to get their opinions on it.”
There are no additional plans for the wall this summer but some regularly scheduled Seward activites may include it.