Photo by gringo_loco87

Over the weekend, a construction site on the corner of 14th and Q streets NW became something of a sounding board for the hopes and aspirations of passersby. The “Before I Die” installation that appeared is as simple as it sounds: a chalkboard allowing anyone to fill in an activity, idea or hope they’d like to complete before the end of their lives.

I stopped by this morning and scanned the many submissions that already grace the board; they ranged from the hopeful to the humorous. For everyone who hoped to “fall in love,” “make a positive impact on the world” or “end famine,” there were other people pledging to “race a cheetah,” “be free to walk around naked” and “swim in a pool of grapes.” For the one person that wanted to see “Puerto Rico libre,” someone else wished to “visitar a Cuba (libre).” One person wanted to “become a taxidermist,” another “own a monkey” and a third “hug a hippo.” There were hopes for another black president, and expectations of a female president. And that’s just a tiny sampling.

All told, the “Before I Die” concept—first started in New Orleans, now in cities across the world—is generally proof that installation art can be mature, thoughtful and engaging. (And yes, sometimes very funny.) It’s worth stopping by.