Thank you, Somerville Beat, for featuring a great story about Cathy Piantigini, a lifelong Somerville resident who's made it her mission to grab a photograph of "every single yard shrine" to the Virgin Mary she encounters in Somerville.

Piantigini, a Somerville Public Library employee, posts her photos at a Tumblr blog called Bathtub Marys of Somerville

According to the blog, Piantigini has documented over 500 statues so far, and she's still working on finding more.

Somerville Beat interviewed Piantigini, a runner who was injured in 2012 and was forced to go on walks instead of runs. Slowing down allowed her to notice all the Mary statues in a way she never did before.

The photographer told Somerville Beat she's walked down nearly every street in Somerville, sometimes sneaking into driveways to get a clear shot of a Virgin Mary statue with her iPhone.

The interview is worth a read, and by all means take a look at Bathtub Marys of Somerville. Its collection of Mary-statue photos paints an intimate and loving picture of Somerville and its neighborhoods.

Also, Somerville Beat says Piantigini will have a show at Sherman Cafe in Union Square at some point. Keep your eyes open for that.