MARIGNY - The comment period has concluded over on the blighted house at the corner of Burgundy and Marigny Sts. But for once the end of memorable public art wasn't the work of the Gray Ghost. Last week, two of the crafters of the "Before I Die" wall painted a white coat over the giant chalkboard. The wall, which went up within the first two months of the year, offered pedestrians a chance to write down their aspirations by finishing the phrase, "Before I Die I want to..." The wall's life cycle simply ran its cours, said project staffer Alan Williams.

Ever spot those ‘Hello, My Name Is’ stickers around town, but after a double take realize they say ‘I Wish This Was’ instead? None other than urban design-chic Candy Chang is behind the I WISH THIS WAS project, along with the Civic Center. When made aware of this new project, NoDef learned that the inspiration came from the lack of grocery stores in Chang’s neighborhood; the CC’s Kristina Kassem recently elaborated: “stickers were created to give people of the community an outlet to voice their opinions as to what they would like to see in their neighborhood.”

The visual arts continued their resurgence in 2010. Events such as Prospect 1.5, PhotoNOLA, and the suddenly hot monthly art walks have propelled those putting brush to canvas to a stature equal to those putting brushes to skin... feet to canvas. Right now, we are seeing incredible art coming out of this city; the works span all mediums, and convey themes still tinged by the Storm, but no longer pigeonholed by our dark days.

In the world of hypothetical New Orleans architecture, the self is lifted up, loitering is a prized right, and and a grocery store could be wherever you need it. 

So, at least two out of three ideas are close to reality.

MARIGNY- Here’s one for all you paraphiliacs out there: picture a centerfold of the hottest Oak Tree this side of Esplanade’s ever seen. NYE is just around the corner, and goodness knows y’all need a calendar for the new year. Let’s face it, bikini babes and muscle men are out, and trees are in. That’s right, trees. And sexy trees at that. Designer/Artist/Urban planner Candy Chang makes environmentalism organizationally erotic with her new Sexy Trees of the Marigny 2011 Calendar.