Since 1973 the California artist Linda Montano has used her own life—past and present—as material for her performances. After her estranged husband died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in August 1977, her work focused on reactions to his death.

Some of her earlier performances consisted of her usual activities being observed by others, in 1973, when she lived in San Francisco, she sent announcements to her friends saying that she would stay home for a week and would be available. She photographed everyone who visited during the week and documented food intake, telephone calls, and dreams. In other events she lived-in at several galleries and on the beach for three days at a time. In one of these events, she was blindfolded; in another she listened to her heart murmur with a stethescope. These living events are “framed“ for the viewer by being removed from their usual context.