Drop the Last Stone
Community Art Installation

Description
Artists Paula Rendino and C. M. Judge premiered the timely community art installation, Drop the Last Stone from January 27, 2025 - April 28, 2025 at the Rivier University Art Gallery in Nashua New Hampshire. The impetus to create the installation is rooted in our increasingly hostile culture that fuels conflict and grudges to our personal and collective detriment. Grudge holding is unhealthy for our bodies, minds and spirit. In various countries around the world stoning still exists as punishment. Worldwide stoning through bullying with words is rampant. Today, it seems as if the world is on fire with hatred. This can change by the smallest of intent by each one of us. The artists invite the public to the gallery to participate in adding to the exhibit with their own reflection on dropping a grudge and placement of a stone to the ring of stones — no matter how small. Together, we all can start somewhere.
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Artists Rendino and Judge have been artistic collaborators for over 20 years, both exhibiting nationally and internationally. Rendino holds a Master of Arts and Theological Studies from Andover Newton Theological School. Her workshops connect the heart to art. Judge holds a Master of Science in Advanced Visual Studies from M.I.T., is an advocate for and practitioner of the Ignatian spiritual exercises and leads creativity workshops for persons of all ages and abilities.
Regarding
"Stoning"
Many in the Western world are familiar with the story of Jesus, who asked those gathered around an accused adulterous woman, “He that is without sin among you, cast the first stone.”
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Death by blunt force inflicted by dozens of thrown stones, a community collectively punishes the condemned even today in the twenty first century. Stoning as a legal method of capital punishment is practiced today in countries, such as Iran, Nigeria, United Arab Emirates, Pakistan and Afghanistan to name a few. The body politics of stoning often relates to the chasteness of a betrothed woman, adultery, homosexuality, and perceived guilt of a rape victim who did not “cry out” such as in ancient times among Jews, Christians, Muslims and other ancient peoples.
Today, stoning through words exists wherever social media spreads words of hate, violence and shame to bully and intimidate. In the U.S. alone, young people may find themselves condemned, ridiculed and bullied for being female, trans, gay, overweight, dressing differently, and for being artistic or different. Research has shown that young adults who use social media are three times as likely to suffer from depression, putting a large portion of the population at risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Older people and elders are condemned as a group on social media. Disrespectful posts that belittle and bully persons simply for being Asian, Muslim, Hindu, Jewish, politically liberal or conservative are prevalent.
When does the “other” become our fellow citizen of the U.S. and community member of the world versus our “outside” agreed upon enemy? How and why are we now enemies within a town or local community, wishing death of another simply for a varying political view? Scapegoating is alive and well.
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Can we all drop a grudge we have against someone? Who will release the last stone?
Installation Description
A sixteen by ten- foot open circle composed with string-tied stones occupies the center of the gallery space. Each string represents the letting go of a grudge or a moment of forgiveness offered by participants. The circle offers a place for the viewer/participant to stand in reflection in the center amongst the stones. Part of the power of the circle is the duality of a place of peaceful contemplation, as well as, testament of those who have experienced an angry mob with stones in hand.
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Reflections written on vellum paper are hung on a wall in the main gallery. People are sharing their reflections through dropthelaststone.com, in workshops and in person at the gallery. The accumulated vellum papers will be overlapped to form a textured sea of anonymously written reflections. Translucent in their overlay and juxtaposed to the circle of stones, these elements set the tone of witness.
A large format print of a solitary stone is placed on the far wall, reminding us of the potential power of our individual intentions and actions.
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In the second gallery, a meditative video features the natural beauty and rhythms of stone and water elements inviting deeper reflection.
Community Participation
Thank you for deciding to participate in Drop the Last Stone!
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You may drop a grudge by participating in one of the three ways:
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remotely from your phone or computer on dropthelaststone.com
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in person “live” at the Art Gallery at Rivier University
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at Drop the Last Stone workshops
Remote Participation
Instructions
After reflecting on your personal experiences with grudges (holding grudges or having grudges held against you), decide on a grudge you wish to drop. The length of your submission may be as short as a single word or sentence or longer such as a paragraph or more as long as it is accommodated by the online form. We ask that you do this anonymously; you may use an initial for the person/entity and for yourself. Your written contribution will be printed on vellum and added to the reflection wall in the installation. A stone will be wrapped on your behalf as a testament to your written reflection.
We each can make our world better by dropping a grudge or two or three. As one drop of water swells into a current, forgiveness creates a swell of better possibilities in all of us.
To participate remotely, please use the form provided below to record your experience.
On-Site Participation
Instructions
Participation directions and materials will be provided. Please feel free to bring your own stone if you wish.
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Please visit the exhibit and come participate at the Art Gallery of Rivier University.
Gallery Location:
Memorial Hall, 420 South Main St, Nashua NH.
Entry off the parking lot at the rear of the building.
Access to second floor landing by elevator and six low steps.
Turn left when leaving the elevator. The gallery is straight ahead.
Admission and Hours:
Admission is free and open to the public.
Regular hours: Monday-Thursday 10:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M.
Friday 10:00 A.M. - 1:00 P.M.
Groups at other times by email request to the gallery director
Workshops Offered Elsewhere
Workshops may be held at schools, companies, non-profit organizations, trade associations, temples, churches, mosques, clubs, knitting circles, senior centers, professional development, continuing education and other group settings. Requests for off-campus group workshops may be directed to the artists here.
Share
Please share dropthelaststone.com to bring more participation and reflections to the exhibit. Let's all drop a grudge today!
Helpful Links
Health benefits of dropping grudges:
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5 Dangerous Consequences of Holding a Grudge
Forgiveness: Letting go of grudges and bitterness - Mayo Clinic
New Study Shows The Mental And Physical Harm Of Holding Workplace Grudges
Narcissism and holding grudges:
New psychology research connects narcissism to grudge holding
Activities around forgiveness:
24 Forgiveness Activities, Exercises, Tips and Worksheets
Religious views on holding grudges:
The heaviest thing to hold is a grudge - Chaitanya Charan Das, Bhagavad Gita ISKCON
Hadith on Grudges: Let go of hatred, malice, and enmity
Bearing a Grudge - Negative Commandment 305 - Chabad.org
James 5:9-12 KJV - Grudge not one against another, - Bible Gateway
100 Bible Verses about Grudges
The Removal of Grudges - Buddhist Inquiry
Animals hold grudges too:
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Lasting Recognition of Threatening People by Wild American Crows - ResearchGate
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Drop the Last Stone
Images and website © Paula Rendino and CM Judge