Bouquet of Gratitude

Bouquet of Gratitude by artist Serena Saunders is a mural located inside the Finley Recreation Center in the Stenton neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The mural is a tribute to the Honorable Marian Tasco. It features a portrait of Tasco against a map of Philadelphia’s 9th District, where Tasco served as a council member for 28 years. The mural includes colorful bouquets from the community alongside logos of the many organizations that both impacted the councilwoman and have been affected by her work.

With over 50 years of public service, Councilwoman Tasco is widely recognized as one of Philadelphia’s most influential, politically savvy, and proactive public officials. She served seven terms on the Philadelphia City Council, representing close to 155,000 residents in Philadelphia’s Northeast and Northwest sections. She served as City Council Majority Leader and Majority Whip and was the first African American elected City Commissioner in Philadelphia. Councilwoman Tasco has received countless awards, honors, and acknowledgments, including the Good Housekeeping Magazine Award for Women in Government, recognition as a trailblazer by the United States Senate via Senator Casey’s Black History Month event, the renaming of the Lindley Court Apartments as the Marian B. Tasco Arms, and a Best of Philly Award as Best Kingmaker for her role in local politics.

Saunders, the artist, has earned recognition for her expertise in portraiture. Commissioned to create the mural, she infuses her work with a vibrant and bold color palette that captures the essence of the human condition, focusing on youth and women. Her art is characterized by its large scale, abstract boldness, and poetic composition, creating a multidimensional narrative. This narrative feels like a collaboration between the poet and the painter within her, offering viewers an immersive and thought-provoking experience.

Bouquet of Gratitude was dedicated in March 2024 during a Women’s History Month Celebrating Women: Past, Present and Future event at the Finley Recreation Center. The event also featured a program of song, poetry, and performance by community members as well as remarks from many public officials, including Commissioner Susan Slawson, Congressman Dwight Evans, State Senator Art Haywood, Councilman Anthony Phillips, Hon. Derek Green, and Sharmain Matlock Turner, CEO of the Urban Affairs Coalition.

Location Note: This is an interior mural that may not always be accessible for public viewing.