1327 — the Virgin known as Mary
In June, it’ll be two years. That’s how long Patrick has been drifting through the neighborhoods around Boston, photographing the mass produced statues of the Virgin Mary. He started in Revere–a town of some fifty thousand people just north of Boston. How many Marys did he photograph in Revere? A hundred? Three hundred? I’ve no idea–but Revere has a lot of working class Catholic families, so it had to be a lot.
Why didn’t he stop with Revere? I’ve no idea–but Patrick went on to photograph Marys in Maldon and Medford, in Saugus and Somerville, in Cambridge and Everett and Winthrop and Lynn and Jamaica Plain. He rambled through every Boston neighborhood and community, camera in hand, peeking over fences, chatting with the locals, sometimes trespassing a wee bit. He’s done it year round; Marys in yards burned dry by summer heat, Marys among the scattered fallen leaves of autumn, snow-covered Marys. Marys flanked by flamingos, confined by fences, encircled with vines, ringed in by flowers. Well-maintained Marys and weathered Marys deteriorating from age and neglect.
Why does he do it? I’ve no idea–but at some point a project develops momentum and all a photographer can do is roll with it. This Dorchester Virgin is the 1,327th Mary in his collection. One thousand three hundred twenty-seven. And he’s not done.
When will he stop? Will he ever stop? I’ve no idea–but at some point this became transcendent. It’s become more than a simple documentary project. It’s become a cultural commentary, a socio-religious testament. It not only speaks to who Patrick is as a person and as a photographer, it also speaks to the community and the role of religion and concepts of commitment and dedication.
What’s the point of all this? I’ve no idea–but if you believe there has to be a point, then you’re missing the point.
Photo "14055028305" not found (invalid ID)Photo "14055028305" not found (invalid ID)Blog photograph copyrighted to the photographer and used with permission by utata.org. All photographs used on utata.org are stored on flickr.com and are obtained via the flickr API. Text is copyrighted to the author, greg fallis and is used with permission by utata.org. Please see Show and Share Your Work
