Friday, May 18, 2012

ARTISTS SUPPORT ME WITH A VOTE:AS ME OR AS MOTHER TERESA?

SHOULD I GO TO ST PATRICKS CATHEDRAL AS MYSELF OR AS MOTHER TERESA TO SUPPORT THE CATHOLIC NUNS? VOTES FROM ARTIST FRIENDS

Dear Friends.
  I received this letter below and would definately like to go . Cant make all of them. Need your vote. Please advise. Should I go as ME OR AS MOTHER TERESA on Tuesday May 29th, 4:30-6:30 to St Patrick's Cathedral to show my solidarity?
  Im definately going, just dont know how to go...as art or as life. Issue is, can art/life intersect here? Or not?
Not sure what is "appropriate", and dont want the Mother Teresa appearance to be mis-construed or distracting....
You know how things can get! In being more carefull,
Linda ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Dear Friends:
  This message goes out to all concerned Catholics in the metropolitan New York area from Call to Action New York and Voice of the Faithful New York.
Next Tuesday, May 15th, we will STAND WITH THE SISTERS in prayerful vigil outside St. Patrick's Cathedral from 4:30 until 6:30PM. We will repeat our sidewalk vigil on Tuesday, May 22 from 4:30-6:30PM, and again on Tuesday, May 29 at the same time.
At our VOTF NY meeting last night, we agreed to seek to have the mandate against the Leadership Council of Women Religious (LCWR) revoked. In this action, we are joining Catholics across the United States who are gathering throughout the month of May to protest an unjust mandate issued without evidence or pastoral care.
If you are not familiar with the recently announced doctrinal Assessment by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, read about it here. Support the sisters by signing the national petition here. Over 40,000 have already signed. As agreed at our meeting last night, our goals in addition to having the mandate against the LCWR revoked are:
1. Show all nuns across the US that we stand with them,
2. Encourage the clergy to shed their silence and join our prayerful and respectful protest, and
3. Help the people in the pews stand up and find their voice in support of the sisters.

All who are interested can make signs ("Stand with the Sisters" or "We Are ALL Nuns") and meet beneath the Atlas statute on Fifth Avenue directly across from St. Patrick's Cathedral between 49th and 50th Streets in Manhattan. Those who wish can gather at 119 West 23rd Street, 10th Floor, Room 1003, at 3PM on May 15 to make signs here. We will then go up to the Cathedral as a group at 4PM. Help get the word out. Please forward to all your family, friends and mailing list members. Look for more communications in the coming days. This is our opportunity to repay in a small way the sisters who taught us and trained us, for all the love they showed us and the sacrifices they have made.

  NOW IT IS OUR TURN TO SHOW THE SISTERS SOME LOVE.

######################################################################################################################### HERE ARE THE RESPONSES FROM THE ARTISTS WHO SENT IN THEIR VOTE TO THE QUESTION, "SHOULD I GO AS MYSELF OR AS MOTHER TERESA?" I THANK ALL OF THEM FOR THEIR THOUGHTFULL SUPORT OF MY QUESTION AND THEIR ATTENTION TO THIS ISSUE OF JUSTICE, ETHICS AND HONOR. LINDA MARY MONTANO , MAY 2012. ######################################################################################################################### #############################
I cannont believe this is happening! THANK YOU DEAR SIS for supporting them. This is a hard call to go as You or ...as you. Do youn kow any of the sisters yourself? I would ask them and explain your heart wish is to support them. Caterina DeRe ##############################################
Linda, Since Call to Action and Voice of the Faithful are pretty serious stuff, (and there may be Sisters of Life - founded by Mother Teresa there- altho I doubt it) It seems best to go as a lay woman in SOLIDARITY with the nuns. Keep Mother Teresa for those special events where you want her presence to be warmly felt. I VOTE FOR LINDA MONTANO to go as herself . Luv, ARTMOM Sister Maryjane Robertshaw
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I would do this as LIFE not as ART an go as yourself. The context is such that a person making ART while participating could distract from the solidarity of the action. Michael Titus Parkes #################################################
Linda, Thanks for including me on this thread. My two cents... They are doing a protest to call attention to the issues they want the world to see. That's what protest is about basically. Making a stand and getting a message out. When throwing pebble into water (several hundred people at a protest) you want the most ripples (millions of people to know about it.) Question to ask… What would help get the message out? What would make the point?Then they will be thrilled! Photo ops are always very important. I would vote FOR you going as Mother Teresa. Perhaps you can have her holding a sign? Or doing something that makes the point they want to make. (Mother teresa on a cross comes to mind, but that would be a bit much! For sure!) As my Dad wisely told me, "Not everyone is going to like you." Some may be offended. Possibly. Possibly not. But in any case, the vast majority will love you. Why live life trying to make EVERYONE approve? It just doesn't work. On the other hand, there are lots and lots of protests I do not go to at all. I prefer to do some art project, more privately-- in small gallery or something interventionist. Yesterday lots of people protested Bank of America, which can be a cruel company. It is foreclosing dozens of houses in our neighborhood every week. But I did not go. Instead I am producing an "Occupy Bernal Foreclosure Fighter Fiesta Block Party and Good Neighbor Awards Ceremony. More my style. I don't like mass protests. I feel uncomfortable. Its not my way generally. But occasionally can be fun. So if you feel uncomfortable going, don't go! Do it YOUR way. Whatever that is. Like you always tell me, "you will figure it out." Love, Annie Annie Sprinkle #########################################################################
My immediate reaction ...go as YOU the other will be too much of a distraction ........my opinion, Bob Schuler
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LINDA, THERE IS NO QUESTION - MOTHER TERESA. YOU LOOK SO MUCH LIKE HER THAT HER WORSHIPPERS WILL THINK YOU ARE A VISION ! YOUR FRIEND, DIANE TERAMANA #######################################################################
Hi linda, Don’t have a strong sense of which would be best. To err on the side of caution might be best. Love, Joan Joan Apter ######################################################################
Perhaps as Performance it would be not in the spirit of the gathering, but you are the one to know... Josepha Gutielus ########################################################################
GO AS YOURSELF. TO GO AS MOTHER TERESA WILL BE PERCEIVED AS DISRESPECTFUL. IN YOUR HEART, YOU KNOW THE ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION. Steven Kolpan ############################################################################
I wouldn't know what to tell you, Linda, I think it depends on the context, or whether you feel you would be helping by being there as Mother Teresa. My first instinct is..in that context, maybe mis-construable or distracting, my second is, well art is important, but you know that you will be meaningful to be there as yourself--that is art as well. Best of luck, Mira Schor #####################################################################
Go as the mother. Beth Stephens #############################################################
dunno, ask jesus? Paul McMahon ######################################################################
Dear Linda Can not read all the info on this issue in the read about it link but I signed the petition. I think the question of going as Mother Teresa or not is complicated ..It could bring some publicity to the vigil that could be welcomed by the participants if they want that .. and visually impacting the event with your spiritual re enactment perhaps another plus. I just do not know how people would take it . Yes it certainly would be a distraction of sorts but not a bad one, given the location in NYC there are many distractions and I think your intent is to focus attention? Have you included nuns and religious "certified professionals.." in your inquiry as to the art life intersect appropriateness at this event ? I think if you are not sure , perhaps you could go to one event as Linda and get a better read on your concerns. I think your reserve indicates you do not feel totally right with it. Whatever decision you make thus will be the right one for the day.... Hope you are well. Love Marlena Marlena Marallo ###################################################################
Dear Linda, Thanks so for sharing and asking for counsel from friends. I know how you feel, though on a minor scale. That is, when I am going to give a poetry reading. It is the art, the creative work that matters and yet there we are by name. Am not sure if this makes sense, but perhaps begin by being yourself, sharing briefly to those present about why you came, how you believe art communicates (is a communion) between all who are present-- and you wish to offer a blessing in the role of Mother Teresa. Maybe say something about how those who have passed over, our ancestors, are available to each of us as companion spirits to strengthen us (through their gifts) on the journey, give us courage to be in ways on our own we would not consider possible. Before a reading, I'd pray, asking God, the divine, to remind me that my writing is a vocation and I've tried to be faithful. Whether people understand or care about what I've written is not "my job." Go with the flow, I'd say to myself, hide in the poems, they will protect you. And so, Linda, I will be with you in spirit, no matter what you choose to do. Courage and Love, Cookie Carolyn Cook ############################################################################
I say go as you holding a large picture of Mother Teresa...otherwise if you go as Motherr Teresa, you'll be called out as a publicity hound... Tobe Carey #########################################################################
Go as both! Pauline Oliveros #####################################################################
Dear Linda, This is a good problem. I read Dear Abbey all the time and love her advice, so I'm putting on my DA wig and working on an answer to your question. Well, since there's gonna be sign-making/carrying during the protest, the words carried on them will represent the thoughts and feelings of the protesters. You, Linda, have other talents, as highly developed as a few well chosen words, for sure. Your costume or character, in my opinion, would not detract from the protest. I believe it would embellish it. Either way, your voice will be heard; but you can empower the event with your art. Yes, add art to reason and you turn consomme into goulash or visa versa. Good luck, Bart Bart Freidman ########################################################################
Dearest Rosita Life / Art / is the question.... just go is my answer !( congratulations if u read through the 'doctrinal assessment!!! I couldn't really understand it but when I saw 'radical feminism' and 'homosexuality' I guessed the patriarchy were up to no good!! ) I send my support to you & the sisters . seems like time is way overdue for a more enlightened outlook! Elizabeth Cross #########################################################################
Thanks for including me as a friend...sending the pics and in asking for opinions... we all have one. I think it would be too theatrical for the Mother costume. Save it for Halloween. Instead make your statement in a way that is "huge" and with integrity. Have a large button made (or make one yourself) saying what you want to say and wear it on a red hat, white veil or something. Loving you in support xoxox Joan Yushin Loori ##########################################################################
Here are my thoughts... if the protest is advocating that "lay people" can hold banners saying "we all are nuns" then I think the answer is obvious. You need to go as MOTHER...but this can be subtle. If you don't want to be an overt MOTHER T this can be an implicit action. Wear the habit but the attitude can be as "quiet" as need be for your comfort zone. Read the moment in the moment to guide your performance. love you Namaste Victoria Aruna Singh ############################################################################### Either way...you'd surely be seen as Mother Teresa....and if SHE ever had anything to say in support of religious women other than obedience being THE virtue, dressing as Mo. T. would give you a chance to quote her. If not, why bother? I wish I could be there with you... blessings! Beth Bastach #####################################################################
i understand your desire to go as mother theresa but if i were you, i wouldn't. as you said, it might be misconstrued. i think the symbol of mother theresa is loaded. why don't you go as a nun? one of many? . Angelika Rinnhofer #########################################################################
I think the decision should depend on whatever is best for the 'cause' And i wouldn't have an answer to that Is there anyone who could advice you, i.e. re good 'publicity' for the cause or not? I would vote for life. Moira Roth
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Go as Mother Teresa but be prepared for some people to be offended(Doug Hall as JFK at the JFK Museum in Dallis for instance-people were crying). Then meditate on it and learn from the experiences. There's a chance that you'll hurt someone's feelings-although I don't know why but people are offended. Question: Is offending people the same as hurting their feelings? Meditate on that. Dale Hoyt
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My gut reaction is: go as yourself if you intend to blend in to the protest, go as MT if you intend to publicize your attendance as an art event. or... go to the protest as yourself and stage your own protest event as MT.... since you thought of the question I assume that deep down you have doubts about going as MT, so perhaps listen to that... Chris Harvey ##############################################################
Well dear Mother Superior, on the one hand MOTHER TERESA is distracting, but on the other, that's just the point, of all sisters/mothers she must be there to show support. Of course all the old fears and hatred of costumes and theater will be arounsed, but that may not be a bad thing. i vote for MOTHER THERESA. Gabrielle Cody ##################################################################
Hi Linda, We think you should go as yourself to avoid complications of an iconic reference.... Much Love, Carolee Sherry Carolee Schneemann ####################################################################

LINDA MONTANO:EVENTS:PERFORMANCES:WORKSHOPS:VIDEOS

LINDA MARY MONTANO'S EVENTS / PERFORMANCES / WORKSHOPS/ VIDEO




PROGRAM 1

DAD ART: A DOCUMENTARY FILM AND PERFORMANCE


In 1998, I began spending time with my aging father and for the first four years became someone who shopped, helped with his checkbook, and drove him to church; but more importantly, I got to know this incredible man as a friend and not just a father. We began collaborating on a video, with Dad telling his friends how to wave to/talk to the camera, and this became a new way for us to communicate: making art but more importantly life together. In the fourth year everything changed as far as the collaboration went because he had a stroke. The video continued as a lifesaver for something and me that Dad either tolerated or was used to. The camera became not a tool for our communicating but a piece of equipment I could hide in back of to shield myself from the pain of Dad's minute-by-minute decline. My terror and sadness would be masked.
 




During those 3 years when I took care of him 24-7 with many other caregivers, I had no thoughts of making a movie or art or a document: I just wanted to see the experience of Dad's illness from behind the camera, not up close and personal. I could not stand seeing anything with my bare eyes. I taped when he was being fed, bathed, taken to the hospital, when he was dying, when he was dead before being taken to the morgue and the day he was buried. 
 
And like all of us, responding to the death of someone close, I resurrected the film as soon as he died, wanting to see my dad, more and more, wanting the video to bring him back to life. Dad died and a film was born.
 




The resulting film is really a performance of grief and hope. It is not a film separate from my presence but an experience which includes five or more volunteers from the place where it is shown who collaborate with me.
 
I sing 7 songs while playing a piano; a master of ceremonies keeps the piece moving, one or two people give counseling; some give water to the audience; some meditate and one "secretary" collects letters to death form audience members who come 'into' the performance area and dictate their thoughts to the "secretary." There is a processional ending and Q&A. I usually instruct the performers on email and phone and the "costume" is black clothes with an emphasis on totally fabulous hair and great shoes. The resulting collage of all of the components allows for an experience of shared communal grieving.



Time: 3 hours



Equipment Needed:

Capacity for DVD Projection

2 Microphones

Proscenium Stage when possible

Two Tables on State

6-8 Chairs

Spot Lighting on approx 5 stations
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PROGRAM 2

A TERESA OF AVILA MARATHON
 



For years Teresa of Avila has been an important influence on my thinking. She is an incredibly forceful woman who was not only a mystic but also an administrator; I would declare her a performance artist. She is a mentor to me. In 1983, I performed my first Teresa of Avila performance in MT Tremper, NY where I lived in a Zen monastery, and during

14 YEARS OF LIVING ART, she became my guide for the second "Chakra"(1984/1992).



Since returning to the Catholic Church, I have re-contacted my love for her and have watched the Catholic TV channel's version of her life, TERESA OF JESU, an 8-hour docu-drama from Spain that is totally incredible. I would like to perform A TERESA OF AVILA MARATHON. It includes the 8 hours of Spanish film, plus a video I made of my version of her story and then a lecture by both a woman and man theologian who would discuss her life and thinking. Hopefully there would be a Catholic priest present at this performance who would hear confessions and give spiritual counseling to individuals throughout the performance. This event could be an overnight event or a daylong performance. I am available for 8 hours of ART/LIFE COUNSELING throughout the experience. At this time, we are in need of very strong role models who have passed the test of endurance, commitment, and love of Truth. Her life would be a great teaching for all. 




Equipment Needed:

DVD capacity

2 Microphones

chairs and tables
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PROGRAM 3

MOTHER TERESA



In the 70's I made videos of myself as many different personas as a way to address identity and the politics of the 70's. (see LEARNING TO TALK, Video Data Bank.) In the 90's I collaborated with Martha Wilson as Hillary Clinton to her Barbara Bush. Most recently, I have performed as Bob Dylan and Mother Teresa, as "endurance". I play a film of Mother Teresa with a pre-recorded sound track and become her for three hours. A Catholic priest would be available for confession and counseling during the performance. I, as Mother Teresa, bless everyone there and the performance becomes a suspension of disbelief and chance to receive her teachings because I honestly look so much like her that people receive her blessing without regret. In this time of irony and scare and fear and craziness, WE ALL NEED ANOTHER MOTHER TERESA VISIT!!!! Q & A to follow the performance.

Equipment Needed:

DVD Capacity

2 Microphones

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PROGRAM 4

LINDA MARY MONTANO'S VIDEOS: OUT OF THE CLOSET
 



My video output has been vast and literally unseen. I make them and store them or they hide away at the Video Data Bank. This event would bring them out of the closet, to be seen in a way that would either be all at once or grouped according to themes/patterns of similarity (death, persona, Catholicism, art/life, autobiography, elders, and documentary).
 For each theme there would be a commentator-historian of the subject for a Q&A after the films of said theme. A priest would be present for Confessions.

THE CREATIVITY/ELDERS SHOW
Montano has interviewed many elders over 80 and included 12 interviews in her video; ALWAYS CREATIVE.

This program also includes documents of Montano's performances.

THE PERSONA/ART SHOW
During the 70's Montano explored persona and made a video LEARNING TO TALK where she became seven different people. And then at menopause, she made 7 STAGES OF INTOXICATION where she became an alcoholic as seven different people to explore the concept of menopause. For the last ten years she has become living people: Hillary Clinton, Bob Dylan and most recently, Mother Teresa of Calcutta. For THE PERSONA/ART SHOW, Montano, a Returned Catholic, will host the evening as Mother Teresa or as Bob Dylan.

THE CATHOLIC/ART SHOW

Catholicism is Montano's religion from childhood and she returned full time to Catholicism in the 90's, making videos and performances influenced by this theological path. For this show, Montano will present FATHER LEBAR, CATHOLIC PRIEST/EXCORSIST; TERESA OF AVILA and will host the show as Mother Teresa of Calcutta. This show also includes performances.

THE INDIA/ART SHOW
Montano studied meditation with Dr. R.S. Mishra for over 20 years and was incredibly influenced by this theology. She will present TWO AYRUVEDIC PHYSICIANS; BENARES; SHARADA, WIFE OF RAMAKRISHNA; CHAKRAPHONICS and THE CHAKRA STORY. Montano will host this event as a Hindu woman classical music singer.

THE DEATH/ART SHOW

For this video presentation, Montano will show MITCHELL'S DEATH; BENARES; and DAD ART. She will give a lecture titled DEATH IN THE ART/LIFE OF LINDA MARY MONTANO as part of this program.

Equipment Needed:

DVD Capacity (VHS possible also)

2 Microphones

Lighting

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PROGRAM 5

LECTURES ON THE LIFE/ART OF LINDA MARY MONTANO
 



My lectures are reflective of the cultural & political climate, my personal autobiographical narrative and the energy of the group present. I often perform a fair tale or persona and then introduce my website and perform it in collaboration with the audience. I refuse to see my work or myself as separate from the audience. They are always my collaborators.




LECTURE

DEATH: IN ART/LIFE, with LINDA MARY MONTANO


This lecture/workshop offers an opportunity for participants to become verbally / aesthetically / performatively / spiritually conversant with one of life's taboo subjects: death. St Francis of Assisi called death "sister death" having drained the word of it's sting. Hopefully our examinations/experiences will allow all of us to alleviate some unnecessary issues around the subject of death/dying.

Montano has explored the topic of death in many different media and venues. For example as video: MITCHELL'S DEATH. As lecture: DEATH IN THE ART/LIFE OF LINDA MARY MONTANO. As literature: Montano interviewed many performance artists about death/ritual in her book, PERFORMANCE ARTISTS TALKING IN THE 80'S, UC Press. As literature in Montano's book: LETTERS FROM LINDA M MONTANO, Routledge. As performance: DAD ART a film/performance documenting my father's life, illness and death. As video: BENARES, a film documenting the burning ghats in India.

My belief is that seeing is healing and in this workshop we will sensitively expand our life/art vocabulary around the topics of grief / taboo / fear / illness / release / death as metaphor / spiritual aspects and other topics raised in the practice and process of group-think. Lectures by funeral directors, doctors may be included in the course/lecture.

After 40 years of teaching performance, I have developed reliable methods to elicit trust and performance courage. To feed the mind, we will look at and study the topic via video, lecture, and class presentations. The workshop will culminate with a public presentation of Montano's film/performance, DAD ART. Members of the class will be invited to participate and collaborate with Montano during this performance and will receive a PERFORMANCE ART CERTIFICATE. When presented as a lecture, other performative practices will be considered.



Needed for class:

Notebook

Pen

Blanket





LECTURE



LINDA MARY MONTANO'S TERESA OF AVILA MARATHON: A COLLABORATIVE COLLABORATION




Teresa of Avila is one of the most important influences in my life and when I saw Catholic TV's (EWTN'S) 8 hour documentary of her life, I was impressed with the brilliance of the story and the ability of the film to bring her almost back to life. I would like the audiences to have a chance to become acquainted with Saint Teresa and discover/rediscover for themselves, her now-relevant teachings at a time when we are all starved for spiritual direction. The lecture/symposium will offer performative and real-time events so everyone has a chance to participate in their own way.


1. For 8 hours, the film Teresa of Jesu, will play in a public theatre space. During the film, Linda Mary Montano will be in costume, "durating" as another Teresa, Mother Teresa of Calcutta. She will offer ART/LIFE COUNSELING for those who attend the film.


2. After the film, Montano will premier her 35 minute film Teresa of Avila.



3. An invited guest will lecture on Teresa's meditation teachings, including references to Teresa's mystical instructions as revealed in her class, THE INTERIOR CASTLE.



4. Possibilities: (when in the context of a university) dance from Spanish Department; lectures on topics relevant to the symposium's theme; foods from Teresa's time offered by the anthropology department; marathon readings from THE INTERIOR CASTLE by students outside the site where film is showing; a Catholic priest hearing confessions during the film; nuns costumes from theatre department, worn by participants; and the opportunity for anyone interested to live as a nun for the day. This experience can be arranged for workshop or lecture venues.



OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE LECTURE/WORKSHOP


Montano will host a scholar from Mexico City who will lecture on the "Torma" of Guadalupe, the cloak that Juan Diego presented to the Bishop that contained a miraculous painting of Our Lady of Guadalupe, a proof of the miracle of the apparition of Mary. After the lecture, each participant will then perform their own interpretation of the way that miracles happen in their everyday lives.

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PROGRAM 6

WORKSHOP(S) WITH LINDA MARY MONTANO
 
 



For all. No experience necessary. I use my 40 years teaching experience, 40 years of performance experience and the feel of the group energy to cultivate an atmosphere that allows for creative fabulousness. I often have them bring costumes, wigs and come in a clothes-color of their choice to the workshop.

WORKSHOPS WITH MONTANO

Internationally acclaimed performance artist, Linda Mary Montano, often offers two-week workshops. 
Montano will show videos, will lecture on her 40-year career as a performance artist, and offers her unique teaching techniques with students and the community. Montano's book, LETTERS FROM LINDA MARY MONTANO, (Routledge) will be used as a reference as well as her many videos.
 Montano has been performing her art/life internationally and has written books on the subject. She is included in major museum shows including the Guggenheim and has received NEA grants, many awards and is in museum collections. Montano trained as a sculptor and considers herself a LIVING SCULPTURE who performs LIVING ART. The workshops will eventuate in a group-public performance based on the communal research. 




PERFORM YOUR ART/LIFE WORKSHOP
Montano has used her daily life as material for her art since 1969. She mentors others to do the same in an atmosphere of safe/accountable permission and creative insight. Food, intimacy, money, fame, pop culture, aging or death might become topics of research depending on the needs and interests of the participants. 
Theatre games, sound exercises, trust experiences are first experienced before anyone is asked to share their LIFE/ART performances. Critique is

healing-oriented, never punitive or critical. 
Videos, writing and community outreach are tools used during the process. Montano has been trained in laughter with Steve Wilson (WORLD LAUGHTER TOUR) and includes humor in her art/life and teaching. Montano considers her life to be a work of art and her art to be a transformed reflection of her life. This workshop communicates this practice.



READ, PRAY, PERFORM


Montano will ask participants to bring a Bible to the workshop. We will find places in the New Testament that resonate with each participant's art/life issue and then spend time in prayer. Time will be allotted for performing responses in a healing, prayerfull and positive manner.

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PROGRAM 7

ART/LIFE/LAUGHTER COUNSELING
 



From 1984-1991 Marcia Tucker gave me a 7-year installation-room at the New Museum where I performed an aspect of 7 YEARS OF LIVING ART: I appeared there, in the Wooster St window which they painted the color I wore that year, and once a month I came to the window from Kingston, NY (THE ART/LIFE INSTITUTE), and I saw people for 7 hours a day where I offered palm readings, tarot and healings. 




Since re-entering the Catholic church, I no longer use my gifts of being able to do all of the above, so now I offer prayer, laughter, generic ART/LIFE COUNSELING, and share my living "presence" with people on an individual basis. It is very effective and I have been doing a version of these one-on-one interactions for over 20 years as ART. The laughter is new and I find that it is very effective and allows for problems to be "seen" in an entirely different way because people become free of their old worries due to the technique that I use which has much to do with brain chemistry via sound and attitude and changing the way the brain holds onto issues. Laughter detangles problems.



It is wonderful because I spend time with living, breathing, real people in real time, away from our three sources of light: our TV Screens - our Computer Screens - our Refrigerators.
 This performance insists that another LIGHT is that of self-to-self, eye-to-eye Presence.



Equipment Needed:

May occur in public window space, Gallery, by SKYPE, over the phone, while living in an installation in a museum, or any other appropriate private space.

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PROGRAM 8

READING FROM PUBLICATIONS: LETTERS FROM LINDA MARY MONTANO (Routledge); PERFORMANCE ARTISTS TALKING IN THE 80'S (UC Press); ART IN EVERYDAY LIFE (1980); unpublished plays, and manuscripts.



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PROGRAM 9

A RETROSPECTIVE OF THE ART/LIFE OF LINDA MARY MONTANO
 




This installation would include clothes worn by me during 14 YEARS OF LIVING ART; photos of performances; objects from past performances; documents from my archive; video installations. All will be seen in the context of a museum/gallery or at THE ART LIFE INSTITUTE in Kingston NY, the present site of my archive.


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PROGRAM 10

PERFORMANCE PROGRAMS



SINGING THE POEMS
Montano will sing 50 poems written in the last 50 years. The performance ends when the poems are sung and repeated so that the performance lasts for 3 or 7 hours, depending on the venue. Random video images will be projected during this experience.



SINGING THE FAIRY TALES

Montano will sing 32 fairy tales she has written over the last 40 years. The performance will last for 3 or 7 hours, depending on the venue. Random children's cartoons will be projected during this experience.



SINGING THE ARCHIVE

Montano will sing the 69 pages of her archive and it will endure until the archive is completely read in full. Archivist Lydia Brawner will accompany this performance when she is available or perform SINGING THE ARCHIVE as a solo performance. Images of Montano's archive will be projected during this experience.



SINGING THE UNSINGABLE

Montano will sing 19 short stories written in the 80's that contain material that she now judges to be too explicit erotically to reveal in public. Montano will wear a gag on her mouth and read/hum the stories for 3 hours. Images of flowers will be projected during the experience.



PRAYER/ART
Montano will go to a Catholic Pilgrimage site and say prayers at the site for those indicating their petitions. Montano has performed PRAYER/ART at Lourdes, Fatima, the Tomb of Teresa of Avila, Guadaloupe, St Ann's Shrine, St Jospeh's in Montreal, The Vatican, Church of St Francis of Assisi, Church of Catherine of Bologna, Padre Pio's Tomb, the Eucharistic Miracle Shrines of Italy, St Michael's Shrine, St Patrick's Cathedral, the Shrine of Juan Diego, and many other sites. Montano will take others on this pilgrimage or can be sponsored to go alone and present prayers for patrons who support her pilgrimage.



ASSIGNMENT ART

Montano performs giving assignments. Each participant of the audience asks a question about how to face / handle / deal with an aspect of their LIFE/ART, and Montano gives them a public "assignment" which they complete at home and then email the results to Montano. Montano will email each participant who completes the assignment a PERFORMANCE ART CERTIFICATE at the conclusion of the event. What is most stressed is that performances are done in a spirit of SAFETY, ACCOUNTABILITY, and NON-VIOLNENCE. NOTHING PHYSICALLY, MENTALLY, SPIRITUALLY, EMOTIONALLY, ECONOMICALLY OR PSYCHOLOGICALLY DANGEROUS can be performed by the certificate holder to be.



TABOR-LIGHT ART
Montano will work with technicians to fabricate a hologram of herself as an angel and will appear in seven different sites to be announced. Montano will also do this performance in a public performance space for seven hours and audio / spoken word / media will play information about St. Teresa of Avila during the holographic transmission.



PRAYER RETREAT PERFORMANCES
Montano will meet with participants interested in spending three hours in retreat at Catholic Churches in their vicinity. Places to be announced. Montano has been performing 3 HOUR PRAYER RETREATS since 2005.



A DAY WITH LINDA MARY MONTANO

Montano will share her ART/LIFE teachings with the participant for a day. Montano will make living arrangements according to the site. Email Montano at lindamontano@hotmail.com to make arrangements.



SKYPE WITH LINDA MARY MONTANO

Montano will visit individuals, performance spaces, academic sites for performances, classes, workshops, individual ART/LIFE COUNSELING. Email lindamontano@hotmail.com to make arrangements.



DYSTONIA/ART

Montano has a neurological condition, Dystonia, and will meet with other artists with compromised health issues and perform along with her Dystonia tape, which presents her receiving Botox injections in her neck. She will ask Leon Fleisher, who also has Dystonia, to perform with her.



LAUGHTER/ENDURANCE/ART
Montano will perform continuous laughter for 7 hours. Video Included.



MASSAGE/ENDURANCE/ART

Montano will receive a massage for 7 hours from 4 different practitioners. Sounds will be broadcast to a specific public place to be announced.



VIDEO RETROSPECTIVE/COUNSELLING ART
Montano's videos will be shown as a retrospective. Montano will give ART/LIFE COUNSELLING during the video retrospective. Time to be determined by the numbers of videos made at the time of the event.



BE SIMPLE ART/LIFE

Montano will mentor the participants in the art of life/art simplicity on Skype, phone, in person, during a SIMPLICITY PERFORMANCE.



ROOT RELIGION ART
Montano will perform the story of her root religion, Catholicism, and her journey to Eastern Theologies and return to Catholicism. Participants will be asked to do the same performance at home and then email the result to Montano.

A certificate will be sent to the participants completing the process.



LINDA MARY MONTANO'S 7 HOUR GLAND-A-THON WITH FRIENDS

For over 20 years Montano studied and performed the concept of "CHAKRAS", a Hindu energy system. But when Montano became a Roman Catholic practitioner, she changed focus from Chakras to "GLANDS", using the same endocrine system but clearing the word of "religious" references which makes most people uncomfortable these days. We all have glands but many people do not think they have Chakras!



For this endurance, Montano will ask 7 different participants to represent a gland and then to perform that gland for an hour. Montano will be blindfolded for the entire event and in perpetual motion/movement for 7 hours. This choice to move continuously is a comment on the fact that people with Dystonia are always being "moved" physically by the disease (tremors or spasms) and moving by CHOICE is ecstasy for someone with this condition. This endurance is a peace offering for not only the glands of our own human bodies but also for the positive intentions of all beings at this time of great world concerns.





1. 2:30-3:30.....OVARIES/TESTES



2. 3:30-4:30.....PANCREAS



3. 4:30-5:30.....ADRENALS



4. 5:30-6:30....THYMUS



5. 6:30-7:30....THYROID



6. 7:30-8:30....PINEAL



7. 8:30-9:30....PITUITARY




ARTIST INTERRUPTUS



ARTUS INTERRUPTUS, LINDA M MONTANO, for panel INTERRUPT/INTERVENE, CALIFORNIA, 2008
STATEMENT 1
It is with great happiness that I sit with you today and intervene in collaboration with this distinguished panel.Let's give a round of applause to Beth Stephens and her significant other and her energetic staff for bringing all 247,000 conference details to successfull fruition. Now to my letter.
Dear Beth. Thanks for iterrupting my daily life routine by inviting me here. I have sat at home this winter, sourrounded by monumental northeast snowdrifts and there I interrupt myself from global warming, democratic debates and my personal anxieties by spending inordinate amounts of time visiting the electronic faces of Montel, Judge Judy, Sylvia Brown,Jerry, Ellen, Dr Phil, Oprah, Caesar Milan,Tyra, Flavor Flav, Katy C, Cathy Lee, Whoopie, Britney, Drew, Jay and Conan, to name a few of my friends. Beth, thank you for interrupting my attention, diverting it from my three addictions to artificial light sources: 1. My computer screen 2. My tv screen 3. The interior light of my refrigerator Beth, you have brought my face into the light of day, my face, once public now has become the new private genital, tabooed by technology.Seen by few. Beth, you have interrupted us and shyly we meet face to Face, in this glorious re-union of pre-robotized, uninterrupted, still alive flesh; flesh fed and learning how to feed. Thanks for caring Beth, Love, Linda P.S. We go home filled with hope and promise to use, as time permits, our new intervention skills with a happy grace.
STATEMENT 2:
Now I ask you to help me, interrupt me.Then I will interrupt you,and the paper I read will interrupt my video. Here's the plan: I need 7 volunteer interruptors and you get certificates stating that you too are a performance artist. What do you do? When I read my paper you will randomly call out your word to determine the accent that I use.They are: 1. FRENCH 2. ALCOHOLIC 3. KARATE 4.CHILD 5.ITALIAN 6.CHICKEN 7.HAPPY The rest of you are also performance artists and you get to perform interruptions with laughter: 1. low laughs, 2.middle laughs,3.high laughs.So when I say 1,2,3,please laugh as long and as hard as you desire.

STATEMENT 3: Resisting and refusing the urge to be theological about the number seven so as not to reference the seven chakras( MULADHARA, SVADHISTANA, MANIPURA, ANAHATA, VISHUDDHA, AJNA, SAHASRARA)or the 7 Hindu bija mantras for the chakras( LUM,VUM,RUM,YUM,HUM,OM,OM) or 7 Catholic sacraments( BAPTISM,COMMUNION,CONFIRMATION,MARRIAGE,CONFESSION, HOLY ORDERS,SACRAMENT OF THE SICK) ;or the 7 aspects of the Kaballah, or 7 color frequencies(RED, ORANGE,YELLOW, GREEN BLUE, PURPLE, WHITE), we, in a spirit of inclusive, non-offensive,non-combative ecumenism could say that the voices come from the 7 glands of the body, a reference universally shared since we all have bodies, just not the same religion. Now, let's intervene..bring your hot, warm, light filled hands to your ovaries/testes, your pancreas, your adrenals, your thymus, your thyroid, your pineal, your pituitary.Thank you, GLANDS OF
THE BODY.

STATEMENT 4:
The paper. Please change the tape. The interruptions now begin.

BLINDFOLD WINDOW PIECE

BLINDFOLED/WINDOW PEACE

I saw that Susan Kleckner had organized a window performance in Soho. For one year, women activists would use a storefront window as a place to protest. I immediately liked the form...endurance, availability, limitation. Aaah! All the things I like, deciding to do a week in there blindfolded, having practiced that a few times in the early 70's, and remembered what a sweet experience that had been. The time I allowed my husband Mitchell (Payne)to guide me, take care of me, so I could practice receiving ,was a way to give myself attention and yet be more allowing as half of a couple. And then resurrecting the 3 day blindfold for a 1975 women's conference this time living in a gallery and Pauline(Oliveros) became my guide and I became a laughing, non-judgmental,accepting nymph. Oh how happy when habituation leaves even for awhile and I had a chance to FEEL how to respond, not SEE what to do as dictated by society or my eyes or everyday worries and patterns. I knew that if I was publically blindfolded for a week I would have a chance to be SOFT-HEARTED.

WHAT HAPPENED:
In the beginning I had fear of the porta-potty which is unusual because I am usually very natural about bodily functions. I knew that people were seeing through the curtain that maybe I pulled shut, maybe I didn't but after a day using a porta-potty while blindfolded, in a NYC store window behind a shut curtain was a breeze!

RESULT:
What I discovered is that memory and imagination are picture making enteties and cause as many images to surface as sight itself. Of course I knew this from years of meditation retreats but this time I had a week of no-sight to really see it. Each word that I thought, produced a picture, an image so I never missed not-seeing because I WAS seeing my thoughts, my fears, my imaginings, my memories, . I saw images of words and realized that exhaustion comes from working so hard since there seemed tobe threelevels of sight and thought:
1 .The actual seeing of the thing or person.
2. Discarding or accepting the sight
3.Spending more time on analyzing or reacting to the thoughts that come from the seeing.
Exhaustion comes from having the burden of all three levels. By-passing level one, or sight, vacationed the mind and cut out one more need to control seen reality and after a few days I thought I WAS SEEING but in a new way.
My kinesthetic memory was strong and I moved without faltering and slowly (the window was about 4'by 8' so there really was no place to move to). And because of the slowness and carefullness I could feel when someone was there and HOW I FELT ABOUT THEM.I was captive and prisoner by choice, as art, and because I could not run away,I RECEIVED everything and everyone; the argumentative, the gentle and it seemed an occasion to balance the reality of war and peace.

NIGHT:
I din't see night but knew it was there and did alot of inner work on scared LITTLE LINDA, counseling and advising her, not waiting for mother and father or a prince in shining armor to come and unlock the door and get me out of there.(I was locked into the store.)
Thoughts(not sights) of fire, thieves, predators of all kinds came and I guess it was good charnel ground meditation and I did dial out by counting the numbers on the face of the phone and called a few friends for support in the nights, a victory .
I learned to cook a complicated soup, another victory(have no idea now what kind of stove it was.)
I learned how to prepare for senior citizenship and possible macular blindness, another victory.
I learned how to feel the love of friends who reached out with soup and visits,a victory.
I allowed myself to be a vehicle for the voyeurism of viewers, peeking at me from outside the window, 2 inches away from me, another vistory.
I like practicing new skills but as an artist, reaching outside of the 200 year old traditions that are male invested.
I like to use art as a forum and place to practice receptivity by feigning a handicapp( I was also doing this because I had been working as a caregiver and my cancer-ridden terminal client said to me one day, "This cancer isn't going to kill me, the service is!) , and I thought, I'd better practice receiving NOW before it's too late.
AFTER A WEEK OF BEING BLINDFOLDED:Equilibrium is off after 2 days,and after seven I have sea legs.Taking away the blindfold is like giving my brain a laserdose of light.Ihave sea legs, stumble, can't walk,nausea, feellike an escaped prisioner. Vow to come out of these things moregently and moreprofessionally next time.I WILL DO ANYTHING TO EXPERIENCE THE SELF.

QUESTIONS FOR LIFESPRING CLASS

QUESTIONS FOR THE END OF SEMESTER CLASS AT LIFESPRING

1. WHY DID WE WALK AROUND THE ROOM AT THE BEGINNING OF CALL WITH THE ATTITUDE OF "BEING AN ANIMAL" AND "BEING TOTALLY NATURAL" ?

2. WHY DIDNT WE EVER USE OUR OWN NAME AND WE MADE UP NEW NAMES?

3. WHY DO WE CLOSE OUR EYES WHEN LISTENING TO OTHERS WHEN THEY ARE READING OR TALKING?

4. WHY DO WE WRITE LETTERS TO OUR GLANDS?

5. WHICH BRAIN WORRIES?

6. WHY DID JILL BOLTE TAYLOR EXPERIENCE THE ECSTASY OF UNCONDITIONAL LOVE?

7. WHY ARE WE PRACTICING GRATITUDE TO OUR GLANDS ?

8. WHAT TOOLS ARE IN YOUR TOOL BOX FOR YOUR DAILY LIFE USE?

9. WHY ARE ALL OF OUR EMOTIONS HONORED?

10. WHY IS ART SUCH A WONDERFULL TOOL?

11. WHAT WAY WILL YOU PRACTICE YOUR NEW SKILLS IN EVERYDAY LIFE?

12. WHY IS BREATH SO IMPORTANT? WHY IS SILENCE SO IMPORTANT?

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

LINDA MARY MONTANO'S RANT-A-RAMA

RANT-A-RAMA

DO YOU NEED TO RANT AND DONT WANT TO WASTE YOUR TIME/ENERGY/MENTAL PEACE/REPUTATION/MEDITATED EQUILIBRIUM/DISCIPLINE/AURA OF SWEETNESS DOING SO?

  IF SO............SEND ME YOUR ISSUE/ISSUES AND :

1. I WILL DESIGN AN OBJECT THAT WILL APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN MADE BY AN UNHAPPY CAMPER WHICH I THEN SEND TO YOU OR

2. I WILL COMPOSE AN OVER THE TOP RANT-FILLED LETTER WHICH YOU CAN SEND: TO A PERSON TO A COUNTRY TO A MEDICAL PERSON/PLACE TO A LOBBYIST TO YOUR CONTRACTOR TO A PROPONENT OF FRACKING TO AN EDITOR OF ANY PAPER ANYWHERE TO A BOOK PUBLISHER TO A GALLERY OWNER TO A BISHOP ETC.

3. I ALSO DESIGN RESPONSES FOR YOUR NEED TO SEND A RANTING EMAIL

4.  I MAKE HYSTERICALLY GENERATED CELLPHONE CALLS IF YOU ARE SHY TO DO SO

5. I COMPOSE TEXTS AND CAN EMAIL THEM TO YOU

6. I DESIGN T-SHIRTS WITH YOUR RANT-MESSAGE ON IT IF YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO SPEAK UP AT THE GYM AND

7. I ALSO ADVISE YOU OF OTHER WAYS THAT I CAN HELP YOU GET THINGS RANTED ABOUT, OFF YOUR CHEST, OUT OF YOUR LEFT BRAIN AND INTO THE REALM OF YOUR TRUTH

I HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO PRODUCE TOTALLY ARCANE EXERCISES OF DRIBBLED RAGE THAT WILL FIT ANY OCCASION.

WHAT IS THE RESULT?

 YOU AND I BOTH BENEFIT: YOU GET TO FEEL BETTER AND I GET TO EXERCISE MY RANT-MUSCLES WHICH INCREASE EXPODENTIALLY AS I AGE.

TO DISCUSS:

CALL 1-7*5-%%3-#2@#@%8