Christopher Padgett has a moving series called ‘Bled for Boston’, in which he photographs Boston residents who got tattoos to show their support for victims of the Boston Marathon bombings, which occurred last April.
According to Padgett in an interview with BuzzFeed, tattoo parlors in New England offered Boston-themed tattoos where they would donate the proceeds to The One Fund to help victims and their families. He was inspired to embark on his project after noticing the people who were getting tattoos while standing in line for one himself.
He mentioned his idea to friends at the Boston Center for Adult Education, where he works as an instructor, and they offered him gallery space to hang the pictures for the entire month of April. This meant it would coincide with the first anniversary of the bombings and the 118th Boston Marathon.
He has photographed close to 80 people who comprised runners, nurses, chiropractors and police officers, including MTBA Officer Richard ‘Dic’ Donohue, who was wounded by gunfire in Watertown, Massachusetts.
The project has been met with great support from the Boston community, including media outlets like the Boston Globe, Boston Magazine and numerous radio stations, a law firm and a photography store.
Padgett has been overwhelmed by the response, saying, “I hope people are happy with how it all comes out and I hope I’m helping in the healing process for our great city.”
The photos have been compiled into a Bled for Boston book and will be sold at the exhibition which opens 3 April at the Boston Center for Adult Education. Proceeds will benefit the Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital where all the victims were treated.
Check out some photos below and find out more about the ‘Bled for Boston’ project on Facebook.
[via BuzzFeed, images by Christopher Padgett]