The Art of Letter Writing

Prepared by Leilani's Peer Support: Supporting her desire to raise awareness.

The concept was to pair writing with paintings and Leilani as given a set of watercolor cards and envelopes with the goal to work towards a group show at NECTAR. It combined the motivation of a deadline for an installation (which the peer support found very helpful, having an exhibition or performance goal), the power of journalling/writing, as well as the power of expressing herself in words. The letters were kept private, but the art was shown.

#theVanGoghProject – A Living Practice of Creative Resistance

#theVanGoghProject was co-created by sisters Leilani and Miele as a dynamic, multi-faceted response to a time of extreme crisis and institutional harm. What began as a way to stay connected through watercolor and letters became a living archive of survival — a creative resistance rooted in love, dignity, and witness. Letter writing was a part of the shared creative process.

This project was never just about art or letters. Those were essential components, but they formed only part of a broader practice:

• 🧩 Trauma-informed peer support, grounded in lived experience

• 🖋️ Letters and journaling as pathways for emotional processing

• 🎨 Visual art as a form of voice and restoration

• 🧭 Advocacy in courtrooms, facilities, and bureaucracies

• 🕊️ Spiritual integrity, ancestral connection, and ritual

• 🖼️ A public offering — culminating in the vision for a group show at NECTAR

Together, Leilani and Miele designed #theVanGoghProject to reclaim what the system tried to erase. When institutions silenced their voices and medicalized their identities, the sisters turned to creation, collaboration, and care as their form of truth-telling.

This project became a lifeline — not just for healing, but for documenting the horrific journey of advocacy that so many families face in silence. While some parts were shared publicly (like the art), others — like the letters — were kept private, sacred, and intact. The project honored both.

It stands now as a testament: to the power of relationship, the necessity of creative resistance, and the vision of what can be rebuilt — even in the aftermath of betrayal.

📚 Research supporting this integrative approach:

• Journaling as emotional healing:
  Vox – Journaling and Mental Health

• Art-making for stress and self-expression:
  Verywell Mind – Art for Stress Relief

• Peer support and healing through shared goals:
  SAMHSA – Peer Support Evidence

• Exhibitions and creative milestones for mental wellness:
  National Museum of Mental Health Project – Findings

Cards Prepared for Taking by Plane for their Brooklyn, NY shared show at Triskelion Arts

TRANSCRIPTION OF LETTERS SENT TO MISA BY MICHELLE

In relation to their shared art project entitled #theVanGoghProject

Intention: To give my sibling hope, to have fun, to work towards our mutual creative goals together.

When it was made clear that the siblings were not to record for #theVanGoghProject, with a vague allegation that they “violate HIPAA laws, state and federal privacy laws” — without providing the exact laws they were referring to — the focus of the project began to be, in part, on letter writing.

These letters clearly show how Michelle Cotrina is suffering as a consequence of the corporation’s “treatment plan.” A treatment plan that Misa Kelly perceives, in part, as injurious to her sibling, and in direct conflict with their #theVanGoghProject intention of following Van Gogh’s formula for making good work, which includes:

“Being housed well and being able to drink one’s coffee in peace.”

Postmarked February 21, 2018

Mailed from ZIP code 90805
Cover image: a giraffe

Letter:

Dear Misa

I have to start new. It’s hard where in the negative the team acts like I’m a new patient and they aren’t going to do anything to move me. They say I refuse to eat. How can I do that when from the beginning they put me in a room and brought cold food and wouldn’t let me out of the room until I ate. I don’t need somebody present force feeding me.

Court was just confusion today. They didn’t see me and rescheduled. I don’t think if you showed up they’ll see you. Just Danielle. It’s not as complicated and serious as the court makes it. Its up to the judge. The court attorney makes reommendations and the judge makes the verdicts.

I don’t feel positive telling you anything when they backtrack what they say, and lie.

I’m happy that your doing well it seems as if you need to concentrate on yourself and know there’s nothing they can do to touch you. Please stay positive, courts just about conservatorship and my length of stay in the facility as well is I know

Love,
Michelle

Postmarked January 26, 2018

From: Los Angeles, CA 900
Cover image: Blank

Letter:

Dear Misa

Its Sunday I’m not in too much somatic pain so I’ll write to you. I remember kindergarten. Standing at my easel and painting. I knew my future right then and there had to be a painter. Then I continued to pain and learn how to draw in grade school. I won an award for a clay vase I made. Then I went to Junior High School, took an art class and won an award, first place for a drawing of a horse. I would make my drawings in pastels. Then in high school I took a drawing class and drew the figure clothed. I was very successful. My teacher encouraged me to go to college as I was ready. I enrolled in Collete while I was in my first years of high school. I drew the nude. My teacher told me my drawings were better than everyone else’s were. I continued at the Junior College to draw from the nude. From then on I stayed in College to paint and draw and make sculpture. I spent 20 years ater a while of not drawing or painting. Misa took me to school to draw

Postmarked February 6, 2018 PM 13L

From: Los Angeles, CA 900
Cover image: None

Letter:

Dear Misa,

So much pain, emotional pain and panic. I fear being locked up for 1 more year. The social worker said Friday, that I have to wait three months until they move me to an IMD. Then it is another six months if I lose Danielle’s conservatorship. I can’t bear eating the full plate, its inhumane and not being able to skip a meal. They had me on unit precautions for 4 months and said I have lice, they then bought somebody in my room with lice for longer than 4 months. They took me into a room closed the door with a cold plate of food and wouldn’t let me out unless I ate the full plate. Cecil took me hostage she said I can’t have coffee or prunes. I’m fear about being held hostage. Sorry for the negative card but the torture over food their being especially Holly Still, about food won’t end. I’m always sick and find it hard to get rid of the flashbacks to what they threaten me with.

Love Michelle

Postmarked November 30, 2017 PM 11L

From: Los Angeles, CA 900
Cover image: Happy snow people and a North Pole sign

Letter:

Dear Misa,

Merry Christmas,

Love, Michelle, please don’t get anything but good cheer, for Christmas.

P.S. Annette, still a young cheerleader.

(When I asked Michelle about the meaning of “cheerleader,” she said it referred to my supportive, encouraging nature.)

Postmarked February 5, 2018 PM 12

From: Los Angeles, CA 900
Cover image: Turtle

Letter:

Dear Misa,

I’m having a bad day. I went to the koi pond to draw the turtles. My work is so bad to myself. I remember my drawings from Otis. They were like photographs so accurate and talented. I lost my ability to draw. I want to go to a drawing class anyway so I have some remorse for my lack of talent. I remember one painting I did. I rented an apartment just to store my art work. I feel like giving up.

Back of card:
To Misa
Talent or not I look forward to life drawing and doing some painting also. Please be patient as of now I don’t think I can draw anymore and paint.

Much Love, Michelle
P.S. I still want to do life drawing and painting.

Postmarked February 9, 2018 PM 3L

From: Los Angeles, CA 900
Cover image: Drawing of a turtle

Letter:

Dear Misa,

I’m trying to remain positive. Holly probably didn’t call today to move me and is going to tell me I’m on hold still. Things are negative. This one mental health worker told me I’m not going to be moved because nobody will take me. She then said you have to go to group. I’ve got group signature sheets for group. I go to more groups than anybody. If only Danielle can take me out of here. I’m told three months which is like doing another year. They obviously don’t want to move me. Holly Still lies. I only get more frightened.

Yesterday by nightfall I got so sick from the force feeding, that I threw up. My stomach can’t bear being so full. I’ll probably vomit again tonight I’m so full. I had an egg and bisque for breakfast and fruit bowl for lunch and diner. I’ll eat a fruit bowl. It is yogurt and cut up melon. The fruit is spoiled but I can’t eat a whole size, it’s too much food. I’m so full now. I can’t eat dinner. Sorry my handwriting is so bad. I’ll try and write better.

Love Michelle

Postmarked February 20, 2018 PM 12L

From: Los Angeles, CA 900
Cover image: A woman’s portrait

Letter:

Dear Misa,

I’m pretty bad off tonight. I’m in shock with too much somatic pain. I am terrified that Dr. Reader will show up in court and attempt to remove Danielle from conservatorship. I haven’t heard much but she definitely has me (?) A public conservator would only give her what she wants. She (?) Cecil is compared to Dr. Reader. When I was alone in her office she acted like Danielle. She removed and pretty much had a very venomous Cecil mouth but even more aggressive. You’ve done nothing but help Misa. Look at what they did to you. They’re after Danielle. She wasn’t able to make it today. Thursday Danielle is being treated worse than they treat their clients. I hope she shows up Thursday with Brian. This seems like it can’t be happening. I don’t think I”ll last 6 more months let alone the remaining tie I have in here.

Love,
Michelle