Stone by stone, she’s making a statement

Her actions are precise, her grace notable and her concentration amid the downtown lunch rush something to behold.

But it’s the symbolism of Joanne Rice’s actions that stands out in the end.

“I like to let the performance speak for itself,” Rice said moments before beginning the 277th straight day of a performance piece outside Trinity Church commemorating the soldiers and civilians lost in wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Since Oct. 7, Rice — a member of the local artists group Mobius — has emerged each day at noon in Copley Square with a small white box in her hands, standing a few feet from a pile of stones on the Trinity Church lawn.

Rice pulls a small stone from the box, stares at it for a moment and then walks three steps forward before placing it atop the growing pile, each one laid there in remembrance of a life lost in the conflicts overseas.

One hundred stones are placed each day and more than 70,000 will be by the time she finishes her two-year action next October.

“I think it’s really profound,” said Yonca Aral, who watched the hourlong performance from a nearby bench. “It’s really beautiful the focus she gives each and every rock.”

Following yesterday’s action, Rice was spent, and it had little to do with the heat. With thoughts and prayers given for each stone she is often emotionally tapped.

“It’s terribly sad,” was all she could muster before walking away, 23 hours before she returns with 100 new stones.

To learn more of Rice’s action visit www.mobius.org.