Boston-born artists Shea Justice and Jason Pramas have some problems with the "Boston Strong" slogan.

So they are responding with a one-week art show called Boston Strong? from April 15-22, 2014 at the Community Church of Boston in Copley Square - and they need your donations to make it a success.

The outpouring of sympathy and funds for the victims of the Boston Marathon bombing under the "Boston Strong" banner is a fine example of a positive collective response to a significant tragedy.

Three people were killed by the bombers and scores wounded on April 15, 2013. An inconceivable toll for a modern American city in the 21st Century.

Or was it? In the ten months since the bombing, over 40 Bostonians have lost their lives in brutal attacks, and scores more were wounded. Most of these people were victims of gun violence, are Black or Latino, and live in working class Boston neighborhoods. Most of the Marathon bombing victims are white, middle class, and live outside Boston.

Why does one group of victims get ongoing major media attention and huge amounts of material aid, while the other group gets largely ignored?

Why is one group of victims considered deserving of compassion and public support, and the other group undeserving?

Why did major Boston-based corporations pour millions of dollars into the One Boston charity created literally overnight to help the bombing victims at the same time that those corporations play an ongoing role in the maintenence of poverty and human misery in Boston's inner city - and cities like Boston all over the country and the world - that ultimately results in the huge and ongoing death toll from crime and the gun violence that accompanies it?

How does any of this make Boston Strong?

Shea and Jason will address these and related question with two original works of art. Shea is creating four large collages using some of the series of topical pen-and-ink drawings that he has been producing on current events for over a decade. Jason is creating a work of conceptual art based on his research on the six corporations that donated one million dollars apiece to the One Fund.

They could use $500 each for framing, materials, lighting and equipment for a total of $1,000.

The show will be free and open to the public, and the Community Church of Boston is making space available to the artists for a token donation for the entire week of its run. So Shea and Jason will make no money from the exhibit and have therefore decided to ask friends, family and supporters to kick in whatever they can to help them cover their production costs for their artworks.

Anyone that donates any amount will be named Patrons of the show, and will have their names listed on a sign prominently placed next to the artworks at the Community Chuch - and also listed on all of the show's social media presences.

All Patrons will be invited to the show's opening reception on April 15, 2014 as guests of the artists, and their names will be read off from the podium as part of the speakers program. 

Thanks in advance for any help you can give. 

The artists would also appreciate it if you can share the link for this campaign with your friends and family.