Final week of significant art action by Joanne Rice in Copley Square

Joanne Rice performs art action next to Trinity Church

On October 7, 2007, performance artist Joanne Rice began a daily noontime ritual of placing 100 stones in a designated area on the lawn of Trinity Church in Copley Square. As a member of Mobius Artists Group, she had developed a plan to repeat the ritual every single day for two years. Now, after more than 700 days, she has created a mound of more than 70,000 mindfully placed stones that represent more than 70,000 lives lost to war in Iraq and Afghanistan. She chose the dates of her art action, “The Human Cost of War” to recognize the start date of the war in Afghanistan on October 7, 2001.

If you have not had the chance to witness this art action or if you want to take a final look, do it before Wednesday, October 7, 2009. Come around noon any day to the benches on the Boylston Street side of Trinity Church and you can watch the artist slowly pace and reverentially kneel to place each stone. The stones themselves have been carefully considered, collected, and prepared by the artist and by others who have chosen to contribute to her action. The artist recognizes the beauty and individuality of each stone at several stages in her process through a final stage when she contemplatively settles it among the others on the steadily growing mound. To situate all one hundred stones in this attentive way will take at least an hour.

At lunch hour, most people passing may hardly notice or only glance at the quiet ritual, but others stop to watch for a minute or more. Some look puzzled, others intrigued. They might read the two printed signs that are posted to explain the artist’s process and intent. A few people already familiar with the project may respectfully stop by or sometimes take part. The daily action includes religious elements and spiritual concerns acknowledged and supported by Trinity Church. In conceiving and carrying out all the actions that are part of her demanding project, Joanne Rice has demonstrated a deep commitment of time, creative force, and faith. Her work deserves the honor and attention she has given to each stone.

For news article about the art action:www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2007/10/08/artist_marks_human_cost_of_iraq_war/

For more about Mobius Artists Group:www.mobius.org/mobius_events.php

For Examiner article by Winchin Chala:www.examiner.com/x-20053-Boston-Cultural-Events-Examiner~y2009m8d16-Artist-Stones-War-Daily-in-Copley-Square-Boston

For commentary from Trinity Church newsletter: www.trinitychurchboston.org/news/story.php

For statement and journal entries by Joanne Rice: www.mobius.org/mobius_artists.php