Persistence

Persistence is an imagined portrait by artist Jason Andrew Turner that was created in collaboration with women at the Lutheran Settlement House (LSH) in 2019. The portrait does not portray an existing person in the present, but rather one deeply inspired by the oral history of long-time community members and the history of LSH. In 1902, LSH was started by women in service to women and families through social, advocacy, and educational services.

Early in the 20th century, the Kensington neighborhood was considered one of the prominent industrial areas in America. This section of Philadelphia was crowded with mills, factories, breweries, and machine shops. As a result, this area of the city became the first stop for thousands of immigrants who used their trades from their home countries to make a new life in America. Lutheran Settlement House became a “home away from home” for thousands of immigrants, assisting women and families through the provision of food and shelter, education, employment counseling and training, and social activities.
Lutheran Settlement House has stood as a pillar for this ever-evolving community since its inception, looking after individuals and engaging in a multigenerational dialogue. It is this quality that Persistence hopes to embody: honoring the past by looking back, and moving forward to embrace the future with dignity and determination.