Mi Casa Your Casa

The Mi Casa Your Casa art installation project was completed at the end of July, 2022. This project brought a spotlight to the conversation around affordable housing, and reminded Iowa City residents and visitors of the importance of affordable housing for all. We were proud to partner with the Iowa City Downtown District, the City of Iowa City, and Think Iowa City, to bring the international participatory public art installation, Mi Casa Your Casa 2.0 to Downtown Iowa City’s pedestrian mall. The red swings were enjoyed by many, and even more importantly, garnered support for the Johnson County Affordable Housing Coalition’s work. Public contributions as well as social media hashtags were matched by the Community Foundation of Johnson County to total a $2,000 grant to the Johnson County Affordable Housing Coalition. We appreciate the community’s efforts to support affordable housing for all and maintain that housing is a human right.

August 2022

The CFJC is proud to partner with the Iowa City Downtown District, the City of Iowa City, and Think Iowa City, to bring the international participatory public art installation, Mi Casa Your Casa 2.0 to Downtown Iowa City’s pedestrian mall. The installation, made up of 16 red-framed houses, each feature a two-person porch swing encourages visitors to relax, swing, and play in the heart of downtown for an entire month at any time of day. More importantly, though, the installation serves as a tangible reminder that housing is a basic human right and highlights the important conversations in our community around affordable housing.

The Community Foundation of Johnson County is a proud sponsor of this installation, and will be sponsoring an additional MATCH incentive for any gifts made by the public to the Mi Casa Your Casa Fund up to $2,500. Gifts will also be made for participants who take photos at/of the installation and use the hashtag #MiCasaYourCasaIC. The gifts made to the Mi Casa Your Casa Fund will be awarded to the Johnson County Affordable Housing Coalition. The Johnson County Affordable Housing Coalition was chosen as the recipient of these dollars because their work uplifts all organizations working to improve the affordability of housing in our communities. The installation and fundraising campaign will end on July 10th, 2022.

June 2022

To make a gift to the Mi Casa Your Casa Fund in support of the Johnson County Affordable Housing Coalition, click the link below for online gifts, call our office at (319) 337-0483, or mail a check with “Mi Casa Your Casa” in the memo line to:

Community Foundation of Johnson County
510 12th Ave, Suite 102
Coralville, IA 52241

Double your impact! Gifts made up to a total of $2,500 will be matched by the Community Foundation of Johnson County!

Creators: Esrawe + Cadena
Lighting and Interactive Conception: Serge Maheu
Tour Producer: Creos

About the Creators
Hector Esrawe & Ignacio Cadena
Esrawe is the founder of the cross-disciplinary design firm Esrawe Studio that develops furniture and interior design solutions for commercial spaces. He is inspired by traditional Latin American design, architecture and folk art, and his works are playful, sometimes humorous, and organic.Cadena is owner and creative director of CADENA+ASOC. CONCEPT DESIGN, which combines art and science using painting, graphic design, photography, sculpture, video, marketing, architecture, and industrial design to generate award-winning works.Esrawe and Cadena brought their design firms together more than six years ago to form E + C.

About Creos
A leading agency for temporary public interactive installations, Creos connects owners, creators, and distributors of public art around the world so installations can travel and shine on the international stage. Creos offers a portfolio of very diverse installations that give visitors a unique sensory and interactive experience that changes based on the location and the users. Creos also offers expert consulting services for technology and art in public spaces, and project management services for the creation and development of participative installations.