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7
YEARS OF LIVING ART + ANOTHER 7 YEARS OF LIVING ART = 14 YEARS OF
LIVING ART
December 8, 1984 - December 8, 1998
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:
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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.
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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
- 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.
- 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.
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