Letters from Linda M. Montano is an anthology of writings by one of the seminal performance artists of the last century. It provides an autobiographical and historical record of Montano's artistic practice over the last thirty years, collecting together stories, fairytales, letters, interviews, manifestos and other previously unpublished writings. At the same time, the book acts as a 'how-to' manual for aspiring performance artists, offering practical guidance for students and a range of exercises that Montano has used in her teachings and workshops. Finally, Letters from Linda M. Montano represents a performance in itself, in which the artist considers the process of writing, creating and bringing the work to fruition as another form of 'endurance performance' similar to that of her durational works 14 Years of Living Art and Blood Family Art.
COVER PHOTO COURTESY OF GISELA GAMPER.
Biography
Performance artist Linda M. Montano has been exploring the connection between art, life, and spirituality since 1969. She is perhaps best known for endurance art/life performances, such as her recently completed experience 14 Years of Living Art (1984–98) during which she paid attention to the seven energy centers/chakras of the body. Her present durational project is Blood Family Art (1998–present) which she practices in New York. She is the author of Performance Artists Talking in the Eighties (2000) and is currently revising her 1980 publication Art in Everyday Life as an interactive handbook.
Jennie Klein is Assistant Professor of Art History at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. She is a contributing editor for Performing Art Journal and has written for Art History, n.paradoxa, New Art Examiner, Art Papers and Afterimage.
