Before I Die Wall, Sacred Dreams into Words

The Before I Die Wall is up! 132 persons so far have put their sacred dreams into words.

Creating and designing the wall at Escuela de Artes Industriales (Have Hammer Will Travel A.C) school was a challenge. The students and staff took on the challenge to build the wall. After two weeks of planning and design, it was realized that wood would not be strong enough and give years of service to the wall. We then looked metal and realized for about 15% more in expenses, we could have a larger, stronger, longer lasting wall. It was voted it would be metal. Larger 10ft wide by 5 ft 4 inches high with legs 2 ½ feet tall. It took three coats of (pizarron) chalk board paint. Shelly Stokes local stencil maker helped us with iron on stencils. The stencils would not iron on cold metal very well. Upon research we discovered prepositional adhesive spray maybe the answer (like post it notes), it worked and made nice firm contact, but when removing the stencil, the m’s. ns and e’s would rip off and stick the chalk paint. That made the stencil a little difficult to use again. Our stencil maker Shelly Stokes saved the day and made new stencils with little bridges connect the m’s, ns and e’s. the stencil now pealed off very easily and could be used again.

It worked the Before I Die Wall was completed and delivered on time.

And the 4-day event for the “Intercultural celebration of life and honoring death” at LCS also has been a success thank you for partnering with us, your generous support made it all happen. See attached photos

Thank you

Dear Friends,

Thank you for your generous donations to help make the first-ever Intercultural Celebration of Life Festive a success!  We are getting media coverage and expect an impressive turnout for each event.

A formal installation of our Before I Die Wall is planned for Monday, October 24^th at noon on the Lake Chapala Society grounds.  You are invited to be among the first to sign the wall, to put your dream into words:  Before I die I want to_________.

If you cannot sign in person, please send me an email with your wish.  It will be written on the wall as an inspiration to the rest of us and everyone who experiences this unique community art form.  The Wall will be on campus for two weeks.

There was no budget for this event when Glorine came to me in July with the idea for this Festival as a way for all of us to share the grief, we were unable to process because of Covid (she lost two brothers in the pandemic).

As ideas and plans grew, I suggested that we include a Before I Die Wall, which I had seen at a blues festival in Portland years ago.  I reached out to you for gifts, and you came through.  My gratitude overflows.

This festival is one way that our 80-year-old Lake Chapala Society community center is making an effort to bridge the gaps between the Mexican and expatriate community (which is growing as more retirees seek more affordable and less stressful living than they have north of the border, in many cases displacing Mexican families).  

Our Before I Die Wall has been constructed by the students of Have Hammer will travel A.C., Escuela de Artes Industriales, a charity-sponsored school for youth that teaches carpentry and woodworking skills. 

It has been made of metal so it will survive a decade of use and, we hope, be set up in the plazas in other towns around Ajijic during the year, inspiring all of us to think about what is good about life, and how impermanent it is.

With love, gratitude, and hugs,

Thank you again for partnering with us, you made a difference.

Loretta

PS.  My latest Open Circle presentation, "How to Live Forever," will be on YouTube a couple of weeks later.  I will send you the link in case you want to watch it.  No pressure!