Persistence Mural and Historical Marker

Titled "Persistence," this mural is an imagined portrait of a Lutheran woman created by the Brooklyn-based artist Jason Andrew Turner. The artist collaborated with women from the Lutheran Settlement House (LSH) to design the image in 2019. Although the portrait does not depict a specific person, it was inspired by the oral histories provided by women from the LSH. The mural is part of Mural Arts Philadelphia, a program of the City of Philadelphia. Next to the mural, there is a historical marker; both the mural and the marker will appear on your left when traveling north on Frankford Avenue.

Established by a group of Lutheran women in 1902, the Lutheran Settlement House (LSH) offered education, advocacy, and social services for other women and families, especially those who had newly arrived in the country. The settlement house was established in the Kensington neighborhood, which, at the time, was one of the most prominent industrial areas in America. Because this area contained mills, factories, and other places of employment, it drew immigrants who sought work opportunities within the various industrial trades upon their arrival in the U.S. The Lutheran Settlement House was often the first place that immigrants found a sense of home in the new country. Women and families received assistance with food, shelter, job training, employment, education, and community activities.

As noted on the historical marker, the Lutheran Settlement House also sought to encourage and engage in multigenerational dialogue, while supporting individuals and families. The Persistence mural was created to "honor the past by looking back, [while] moving forward to embrace the future with determination and dignity." The mural and the adjacent historical marker were erected in 2019 by Mural Arts Philadelphia, a program of the City of Philadelphia. When the mural was unveiled, a dedication ceremony was held to celebrate the resilience of the many women who had come through the doors of the Lutheran Settlement House since its inception in 1902.

Mural Arts Philadelphia is the largest mural arts program anywhere in the nation. Operating for the past 35 years, it is dedicated to the belief that "art ignites change." The goal of the program is to bring together artists and communities in a collaborative process to create murals that will inspire others and transform public spaces through art. Each year, the program oversees between 50 - 100 projects, while also restoring existing murals as needed. Learning opportunities are also offered in the areas of environmental justice, restorative justice, community murals, and art education, as well as through "Porch Light," an initiative that seeks to strengthened public wellness through art. The creation of public art, painted on building exteriors, streets, and courtyards, has become part of the city's civic landscape. The city of Philadelphia is now known as the mural capital of the world.

Jones, Devry Becker. Persistence Historical Marker, Hmdb. November 20th, 2022. Accessed December 21st, 2022. https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=210872.

Persistence Mural Dedication, Mural Arts Philadelphia. Accessed December 21st, 2022. https://www.muralarts.org/events/persistence-mural-dedication/.

About, Mural Arts Philadelphia. Accessed December 22nd, 2022. https://www.muralarts.org/about/.

Persistence, Jason Andrew Turner. Accessed December 22nd, 2022. https://www.jasonandrewturner.com/mural-arts.