“Before I die,” Callie York read aloud, “I want to go skydiving.”

York is one of thousands who have etched their dreams into the temporary wall set up off Tampa’s Riverwalk.

  • The living art instillation invites visitors to share their dreams
  • The wall is part of a movement started by New Orleans artist Candy Chang
  • St. Petersburg will also be getting a 'Before I Die' wall

‘Before I die …’ is the name of the living art instillation. Tampa’s version joins the thousands of others in 70 countries that have sprouted up since New Orleans artist Candy Chang came up with the concept in 2011. Her first wall was painted on the side of an abandoned home, while Tampa’s wall is lined up against the Riverwalk, standing where the failed Trump Tower Tampa was supposed to stand. The land is now owned by Feldman Equities.

Between Brorein Bridge and the CapTrust Building, the wall sees a lot of foot traffic. Less than a day after its official unveiling, the wall is already full of Tampa residents’ hopes and dreams. Viewers are now writing on the sides and the back of the wall, which are also covered in the chalkboard paint.

“The idea is just to inspire people to think beyond themselves,” Heidi Raschke said. She’s part of the 2016 class of Leadership Tampa Bay, the organization that put up the 40-foot by 8-foot wall. The art piece is their class project.

“It’s very moving to see people interact with this wall and put their dreams up there, their heartfelt sentiments,” Raschke added.

The wall is intended to be fluid. Raschke and others from Leadership Tampa Bay will make visits to maintain the chalk supply. Florida’s frequent showers will wash away old declarations, making room for new ones.

Brain Proctor rides his bike along Riverwalk often. He said once he figured out what this wall was, he knew what he wanted to write.

“I would like to buy my mom a house before I die,” shared Proctor.  

A nine-year-old girl wanted to stop pollution. A new dad wanted to catch a hard-to-find Pokémon. A college student wanted to change the world through dance.

Proctor said he loved reading all of the goals of his neighbors.

“Whatever you feel like you wanna do before you leave this world,” he said.

The ‘Before I die…’ wall will stay up until January 2017. It will then be moved further north to Armature Tampa, where it will be a permanent outdoor fixture, intended to keep Tampa inspired for years to come. A second ‘Before I die…’ wall will be unveiled in St. Petersburg on Sept. 1.