JP artist creates poster to aid bombing victims

Jamaica Plain artist Nancy Marks has created a poster honoring the Boston Marathon bombing victims and raise money for them via The One Fund. Each victim will be offered a free print as well.

“The Extra Mile,” a mixed-media and acrylic painting, depicts various pieces of Boston architecture along with candles for the victims, the word “Boston,” and quotes from President Obama during his April 18 post-bombing visit to Boston.

“…[W]e summon the strength that maybe we didn’t even know we had, and we carry on… On that toughest mile, just when we think that we’ve hit a wall, someone will be there to…pick us up if we fall,” reads the original Obama quotes slightly modified on the poster.

Marks told the Gazette that she created the 18-by-24-inch image as her response to the bombings as a “citizen of the world” and to reflect both the inner strength of survivors and the support the community is offering.

Posters of the painting were created by JP’s Red Sun Press. Marks currently will deliver them to people in exchange for a donation of $25 or more. She said she must cover her $1,000 printing costs, after which all of the proceeds will go to The One Fund, which was created by Gov. Deval Patrick and Mayor Thomas Menino as the official donation vehicle for bombing victims.

The first 300 posters will be offered to bombing victims, possibly via The One Fund itself. Marks said she is discussing that possibility with the Mayor’s Office.

“I know some will find it a comfort and others won’t want to be reminded of [the bombing],” Marks said.

She said she hopes that JP stores will carry the poster as well.

While the poster is now available, Marks said she was contacting the White House in the hopes of having Obama provide a handwritten version of his own quotes to add to the work. There has been no response to that.

Marks is a painter and printmaker who has exhibited frequently at such JP venues as the UFORGE Gallery and the Hallway Gallery. Her work is currently on display at the Boston Convention Center as part of a Jamaica Plain Open Studios group show.

Marks has set up a special email address to handle poster requests at [email protected]. For more about Marks, see nancymarksartist.com. For more about The One Fund, see onefundboston.org.