I make art, like Van Gogh, to free the mind from inner turmoil. In that I have been making art in some pretty strange places of late I consider myself a “make do” artist. Drawing is my highest regard and I look forwards to expanding my vocabulary by returning to my love of painting live from the model. I set the intention to raise awareness through my art about conditions inside lock down mental health facilities. I want people to know what it is like inside of these places. I hope one day to sell my art and I look forwards to one day having a solo exhibition of my work and finishing my art degrees
Collaborations
Michelle is a visual artist who engaged in projects with ArtBark International from 2017-2019. She works independently as well as collaboratively and co-creatively with her peer support, and sibling.
Education
Santa Barbara City College, Otis Parsons, Denver University of Denver, Pasadena City College
My major in college was fine arts with a special interest in life painting and life drawing.
Awards
Cotrina received a scholarship award to further her educational efforts.
Documentation
Discussion about the Van Gogh Project on NYC Radio live. Link available upon request.
Exhibitions and Events
The Van Gogh Project
Center Stage Theater, Santa Barbara, CA March 3, 2019
HHII Festival – The Van Gogh Project: Performance of “Van Gogh Goes to Brooklyn”
– produced by Nebula Dance Lab
The Van Gogh Project
Triskelion Arts, Brooklyn, NY September 2018
Collaborations in Dance Festival– Visual Art Installation: #theVanGoghProject “Leilani & Miele”
Performance of “Van Gogh Goes to Brooklyn”
– produced by Triskelion Arts, curated by Trina Mannino
The Museum Project 2.0 MOMA
MOMA, New York, NY September, 2018
Installing works by Michelle Cotrina and Misa Kelly in MOMA. Art held by volunteer museum visitors
NECTAR: God May 19th, 2018
Yoga Soup, Santa Barbara, CA
– Visual Art Installation: shared installation “Leilani & Miele”
– #theVanGoghProject, Intentional Performance Ritual, Singing of Ground Down accompanied with rattle and projections. Live painting by Leilani.
Description
A shared show with my sibling presented under the pseudonym Leilani & Miele. Works selected for display included 4 paintings from the Red, Yellow, Blue Series: Paintings from Strange Places, a video projection of images from my artist journal set to the soundscape of an interview from #theVanGoghProject, select works on paper from the “Telephone Art” Series, and select works from the “Art of Letter Writing” series.
“How my art relates to the concept of God. I work with the idea of regenerating the mind and find that my creative process activates the spiritual aspects of the mind. It is my belief that art helps society ground into spiritual wholeness. My preferred terminology for God is The Creator and while many see God as Father I see The Creator as something without gender specificity. I find that the work that comes through me is something that comes from a divine sacred space. It is a way of The Creator working through us. Art helps bring light and inspiration to the world. It is a miracle.”
The Museum Project 2.0 Norton Simon September, 2018
Norton Simon Museum: Los Angeles, CA
Description
Installed with a painting live from the model, painted at the Blue Rooster, at the Norton Simon Museum
The Museum Project 2.0 LACMA May 6, 2018
LACMA: Los Angeles, CA
Description
Participation in a performance art event installing my art in LACMA, guerrilla style, with two of my children, and my daughter’s partner participating in documenting the event as well as assisting in the display of my work.
Siblings: The Secrets Sister’s Share September 23, 2018
Yoga Soup, Santa Barbara, CA
NECTAR: Rise
Visual Art Installation: The Secrets Sisters Share – “Leilani & Miele”
Description
A shared show organized by ArtBark International presented under the pseudonym Leilani & Miele. Works selected for display included select works from drawing live from the model, photographs of select images from my art journal, and a video of both my art and my sister’s art with a telephone conversation between us about my artist statement.
Upcoming Exhibitions
Cotrina and her sibling, Kelly, are just beginning to re-connect creatively after an interruption to art outings and bringing art into her facilities. An interruption brought on by COVID19.