By Linda M. Montano

7 YEARS OF LIVING ART is a time-based, endurance/performance which focuses the mind in a directed way so that art becomes a vehicle for meditation. Wearing one color of clothing each year that corresponds to the color of a specific Chakra (Hindu energy system), I was able to stay attentive to my intention. That is, to train the mind not to wander, shop around, or buy into the millions of distractions that impinge minute-to-minute.

This performance is actually an experience borrowed from Hindu theology which states that there are seven nerve plexuses, or nerve centers, on the spinal column which correspond to body parts, body areas, inner psychological qualities and subtle energies. In a Christian analysis by Caroline Myss (1), the Chakras and Seven Sacraments are linked, allowing for a dialogue between Yoga and Catholicism.

Immediately after spending a year tied by a rope to Tehching Hsieh in his endurance titled, ART/LIFE: ONE YEAR PERFORMANCE (2), I began 7 YEARS OF LIVING ART (3). At first I performed very strict disciplines but later allowed the natural flow of the Chakras to become an internal discipline. However, throughout the seven years, I wore clothing of one color religiously, each year. After seven years, I repeated the process in ANOTHER 7 YEARS OF LIVING ART (4).

We all need a goal, an ideal, a job and I use art to give myself that. My goal is a compassionate mind, a silent mind. Wearing all red, all white, does this for me!

The fairy tale titled "Chakra Story" helps to explain the genesis of 14 YEARS OF LIVING ART.

Footnotes:

1. Caroline Myss in her book 'Why People Don't Heal, and How They Can, cross references the Chakras, Sacraments and Kabbalah, a much needed gift to theology.
2. Tehching Hsieh and I never touched, never took the rope off, worked at jobs and were in the same room at the same time for a year. His other endurance's are as equally rigorous and can be viewed on www.oneyearperformance.com
3. I wore one color clothes, stayed in a color space, listened to one sound and saw people once a month for seven years at the New Museum of Contemporary Art where I did art/life counseling.
4. For seven years I wore one color clothes and met visitors astrally four times a year at the Chagall Chapel in the United Nations, New York City.