Help Complete House of the Living

Commemorating loved ones lost to homicide in the greater Philadelphia area.

House of the Living is a collaborative public artwork between FarmerJawn & Friends Foundation Fund, EMIR Healing Center , and Swarthmore College to transform FarmerJawn ’s greenhouse into a monument commemorating homicide victims in Philadelphia. The project intersects environmental sculpture, photography, and agriculture practices to create a safe, nondenominational, judgment-free space where co-victims and the broader community can reflect and heal from the trauma of violence.

Why this is important:

House of the Living represents individuals through portraiture to convey the humanity and the scale of homicide in Philadelphia. Visual art can help us remember that people are not statistics. Those lost to homicide are children, siblings, cousins, spouses, parents, friends, and neighbors– people whose absences are deeply felt.

Families have said they find the name “House of the Living” comforting, knowing light streaming through the images of their loved ones nurtures the plants below. It is a place for families to participate in uplifting events that simultaneously uplift their souls. It is designed to be a safe, peaceful place for reflection.

Funding goals:

The first phase of the project was backed by an $18,000 grant from the Engaged Humanities Studios of the Lang Center at Swarthmore College.

To complete the installation at full scale and restore functionality in the greenhouse, House of the Living is looking to raise $300,000. This effort includes making an additional 320 portraits to fully transform the greenhouse into a monument and make the space accessible for visitors; upgrading and restoring the greenhouse’s heating, ventilation, and electrical systems; and creation of permanent signage for the site.

How campaign funds will be used:

This fundraising campaign for $25,000 will enable the completion of an additional 100 portraits.

See the House of the Living website for more of the story and photos.

EMIR Healing Center (Every Murder is Real) is a nonprofit organization that services and supports family members and friends who have been affected by homicide. EMIR has graciously offered to collect tax-deductible funds for the completion of House of the Living.

Please help support the completion of House of the Living. Thank you for your generosity.