Mitchell’s Death, 1977

Mitchell’s Death consists of an intimate performance in which Montano physically enacts her deep emotional pain. In the work, Montano recounts her experience of her husband’s sudden and tragic death in a monotone chant reminiscent of meditative practices while slowly piercing her face with acupuncture needles in a ritualized act of mourning. Through this labored, ceremonial process, the artist’s performance prolongs her grief yet simultaneously becomes a means of personal transformation and catharsis. In this way, the vide considers art’s potential as a healing modality.