by Stephanie Staples | photo by Janis Jean Photography –
If you think a senior citizen is a person over a certain age, I invite you to spend some time with Director Emeritus of the Canadian International Institute of Art Therapy, Lucille Proulx.
I was lucky enough to help her celebrate her 90th birthday at the grand opening of her Art Exhibition “The Woman on the Towel,” showing at McTavish Academy of Art until March 8, 2022.
Getting last-minute tasks done on her Apple Watch (geez, I’ve been afraid it was too technical for me to figure out!), Lucille was doing virtual training years before most of us even knew what Zoom was. This ball of creative energy shares some of her incredible passion for life, art and helping, and if she doesn’t inspire you to live your life out loud, no matter what your age is, I don’t know who will!
After having eight children, you started University at 50, went through a divorce at 52, then began a 15-year career in infant and child psychiatry. After that, you moved to Victoria and wrote your first (of many) books at 70 years old (published in multiple languages), you volunteered in Thailand for CUSO at 72 to work with abused children and established an art therapy school in both Thailand and Japan at 75, and last but not least co-founded the Canadian International Institute of Art Therapy which trains Art Therapists around the globe. Whew – I’m tired just writing this! What is your inspiration for the ongoing work you do – perhaps can you share a success story?
Humans have always been my inspiration, like my family and the people I work with. When I arrived in Thailand to work at the Centre of Protection of Children’s Rights, to train the trainers, I discovered an artist who had been working with the children for several years, and who was a natural art therapist. I also discovered another artist who specialized in working with autistic children with amazing success at improving their quality of life. I wanted to help them become certified art therapists.
They could not afford to come to Canada, and their English was not advanced enough for virtual teaching. They are the ones who inspired me to open the international program of art therapy in Thailand. I returned several times to teach, and in 2016 they were able to graduate as certified art therapists. Oun has gone on to be the manager of CPCR and Khun Pae is writing a book on doing art therapy with autistic children. The school had its second graduation in 2019, when they honored me with the title of “Grandmother of Art Therapy in Thailand.”
Art Heals, Art Saves – I noticed these words in many of your paintings. As a Certified Art Therapist who has helped people all over the world heal from trauma, how has art been a part of your own personal healing journey and why would you encourage others to use art to heal?
“The Woman on the Towel” is an “art heals and art saves” series. My personal healing journey with art began at 27: giving birth to my fourth child in Newfoundland in 1959, I had a near-death experience. When I recovered I took an adult education art course for my own mental health, and I continued creating art in any spare time as my family life allowed. At night when the babies were in bed I would pull out my ironing board and use it as my art table. “The Woman on the Towel” exhibition was created in 2021 after my cancer diagnosis and mastectomy to help me heal that traumatic experience.
It seems that The Woman on the Towel revealed herself to you – for you, can you share a bit about her?
In November 2020 I was sketching my rock garden on a new white canvas. I did not like the result, so I picked up my old faded garden towel and wiped the board clean, and dropped the towel on the patio. In the morning I went out and picked up the towel and there was the image of the woman. She immediately inspired me to sketch her, although I did not usually draw large people in my art. In November I brought her indoors, and let her rest during the Christmas break. Then in January 2021 I was diagnosed with cancer and underwent a mastectomy. In March I returned to my studio and completed “The Woman with the Paint Brush” and began the series of 50-plus works now hanging in the gallery.
Can you explain what Art Therapy is and who would benefit?
Everyone can benefit from art therapy. It’s a psychoanalytic method of helping people express their inner anxieties with non-verbal and spontaneous art making, supported by a trained art therapist who can engage in talk with the client. Making art has a positive effect on the brain, which allows the client to heal.
Lucille, you stated that you believe your biological clock has been turned back 20 years (I think it’s more like 30 actually!); you started piano lessons at 80 (congratulations on accomplishing Vivaldi Spring!), golf and croquet at 89 (who needs a cart!), and are still being invited to keynote at conferences worldwide – what do you think is the “secret” to your success, longevity and perhaps most importantly, your vitality?
I think longevity may be genetic. I have ancestors who lived to 100. My vitality may be due to the fact that I am Métis from my mother’s lineage. I am creative, positive, I am not afraid of a challenge, I like to do something new regularly, something I never dreamed I could. I see many beautiful things in life and I love living.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I’d like to invite people to join me at Silver Threads on Quadra Street where I will be starting an “Art for Anyone” series in February, as having fun with art is one way to fight this pandemic.
