Lucille Proulx is a Canadian art therapist, artist, and published author

MY ART and ART  THERAPY HISTORY AND LEGACY

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I was born in Ottawa, Ontario. A home birth at the Murray Street address. My sister Aline had given birth two months prior and so I was born an aunt.  My sister lived with us with her husband and child, so I was brought up as a twin for the first 5 years of my life.

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I started school on the year that WW 2 started in 1939 at and I completed grade 8 in 1948 as  the war ended.   I had difficulty in school and was usually at the end of my class in the report card statistics.  At 15, when I began  the High School of Commerce it was discovered that I needed glasses and from then on I was always in the first 3 of my class.  I had enrolled at a public high school under the penalty of excommunication, as catholic kids where not allowed to go to public schools, but I loved every moment of my high school days and I flourished.   I became involved in the drama group, and I excelled in my art courses with Mr. Darby who encouraged me to paint the scenery for the Orpheus Society production of the Pirates of Penzance.   I used to spend a lot of time visiting the  Old Victoria Museum located at the bottom of Elgin street,  now known as the Canadian Museum of Nature and I visited the Art Gallery which was housed in a Hotel on Elgin Street.  I became a secretary and worked for the credit department of the Continental Paper Products, in Ottawa, at 20 years old, with my father’s permission I married Gerald Jodoin, and we moved the Victoria B.C. where he was to undergo his professional training.  We lived in a house owned by the brother of Quebec artist Marc Aurèle Fortin, and I was introduced to his modern art.    My first daughter was born in Victoria, in 1953,  where we celebrated the Queens coronation.  After  a short time in Halifax, where I met the artist William de Garthe, who offered me to participate in his art classes, which I refused as I had never painted and thought I had no talent.  Then, we moved to London England, where my second daughter ( now a stone sculptor) was born in 1955.   London was an eye opener, 10 years after the war, it was still on rations, and the rebuilding had not begun.  I was fortunate to see the Original  Salvador Dali, The Persistence of Memory, (the watches melting in the desert) in  London.  I was also fortunate to see Sir Winston Churchill as he returned from giving his resignation as Prime Minister to the Queen in 1955.  On a trip to Europe  in 1957, while pregnant for my 3rd child,  I was fortunate to see Rembrandt’s “Night Watch” in Amsterdam.  It seemed that every where I went, I kept seeing art by the Masters, at that time, I was not into art, but I did like to look at it. I discovered modern art in historical Montmartre in Paris, missed visiting the Louvre as it was closed, and the Pompidou which was not yet built.

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In 1959, I gave birth to my fourth child, my first son at St. Claire hospital in St. John’s Newfoundland.  I experienced  life threatening birth complications; I was traumatized.  To recover, without medication,  I enrolled in an Adult Education Art class at Memorial University, I found I enjoyed doing art and I was good at it, I continued and never looked back.   I was 27 years old, the mother of 4 children and a navy wife away from my family of origin.  In the 16 years that followed I gave birth to 2 more boys, who are both accomplished musicians, I continued painting on my ironing board, and at the cottage in the summer. I considered myself a landscape artist.

In 1967, in Gatineau, Quebec I studied  acrylic painting  with Jean-Claude Fortin,  and still-life gouache with Roger Lariviere, and in 1969 began creating and decorating, wedding and birthday cakes. In 1970 I went to Malawi to visit my sister who worked in a Leper Colony as a Religious, who trained as a nurse midwife.  I produced a series of landscape and abstract paintings inspired by African scenery and culture.  I left one canvas with the Captain of the ship that had toured us around Lake Niassa.   I returned to Canada to my family and to continue my professional career as a publicity manager, creating logos and advertisements for radio, television and newspaper.

In 1975, I gave birth to twin girls and was invited to join the Ottawa Twins Parents Association.   I became involved as president, and I organized parenting conferences.  I became vice-president of the Parents of Multiple Births Association of Canada and a member of the Adlerian Society, I met mental health professionals who encouraged me to go to university and get my education to work in the field. I gave after-school clay hand building courses in local Ottawa schools.  In 1980 I took my first Psychology course at Carleton University.  At that time I was president of the Ottawa Twins Parents Association, and I had trained as a parent/child educator.   I gave parenting courses in the evenings, and included an art activity to energize these parents. 

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On August 27, 1980, the Ottawa Journal published its last edition.  My husband brought a copy home. In this issue they had an article about the new Art Therapy program at Concordia University with a photo of Michael Edwards (the first director) working with a client with clay. This article inspired me to study art therapy. So, I took my first art education course that September, and I began my correspondence with Concordia University regarding the requirements for enrolment.  I had taken two art theory courses and two psychology courses, by the time  Concordia in Montreal responded.  .  I was advised that I needed studio art courses to qualify, so I changed to the University to Ottawa U, where I could get the required studios. I also needed  practical experience in the health or community fields.  So, I took a 3 day  position as Francophone Outreach Coordinator of The Parent Preschool Resource Center in Ottawa.  I oversaw visiting parent/child playgroups, and so began my interest in working with dyads. I was asked to do a workshop on toilet training, and from this I wrote my book Toilet Training with Love (1983) translated into French  Pipi…Popo.  These

Books I published at the University and sold them internationally through the twins’ parents associations.  I was elected to the Board of Directors of The Association des Services Préscolaire, Ottawa, Carleton.

 

I enrolled in a summer studio course at Ottawa U.,  were  they offered a children’s summer camp, so I enrolled my two youngest daughters there and  we all went to school together.  It was in this art class that I met Roxanne Strasbourg, who told me she was planning to study art therapy at Concordia and invited me to  spend a weekend with her.  I arranged a meeting at Concordia,  I could finally speak to someone in person.  Please note:  no electronics at that time so communications were by mail, or long-distance telephone calls.  .  My meeting at Concordia convinced me that I wanted to study art therapy.   Roxanne and I have remained in contact, although she studied art therapy in the U.S.A.  I participated in a juried exhibition with the work I created in that class.   I entered my final art piece called 103 Clarence Street in an art competition held by the City of Ottawa and won first prize in the abstract realist collage drawing category.  I conducted preschool parent-child art activities at the Tulip Festival in Ottawa.

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When I completed my double concentration BA, of Psychology and Visual Arts, I applied to be accepted for my master’s degree at Concordia.   At that time Concordia offered a Diploma course in Art Therapy, which had to be completed before applying for the MA.  This course required a practicum as well. To be accepted in the program students had to participate in a 3-day introduction to art therapy, then take the one-year  Diploma Course, then apply to the MA program.  I had to solve two problems 1. How to spend 2 nights in Montreal to participate in the introduction to art therapy program and 2 how to finance myself in attending a school in Quebec.  For the 1st problem I contacted my sister who was a “fille de la Sagesse” to find out if they had a convent in Montreal that would put me up for two days.   They had a residence, and welcomed me.   As I was functioning on students’ loan, and since my residence was in Ontario, for my 2nd financial problem I decided to enrol in the  BFA at Ottawa U. so my funding would continue.   I studied Drawing with Jennifer Dickson, RA,  Jacqueline Lemoyne, Trevor Gould and Richard Gorman, whose works hang in the Museum of Modern Art in Montreal.   I studied sculpture with artist Denis Rousseau, and Michel Goulet, and Stan Horner.    I completed the diploma course by commuting from Ottawa to Montreal, 3 days a week, attending the Ottawa U required courses, which I took as self directed. I did all my reading on the bus going back and forth. I shared an apartment with a student colleague.  My two youngest daughters were in school, my husband and I had separated,  so I had to make sure that someone would be home to look after them.   I met a couple at (PPRC) Parent Preschool Resource Center, who were living in a commune with a young baby, they were looking to move out but could not afford it.   I was now a single parent, so I offered them to live in my house, and look after my twin daughters during the week.  I returned home on the weekends, and they took time off at a friend’s summer cottage.  I worked as a Research Assistant with Dr. David Pariser and Dr. Robert Pinsky.   One day, while in Montreal, I accidentally bumped into old friends of mine.  Mike and Monica  Hendrix. Mike was a warden at Warkworth Institution, a  medium penitentiary near Kingston Ontario.  When he heard of the training I was doing in Montreal, he invited me to come and work with the inmates for twos week to replace the “Life Skills Coach”.  My children and I moved in with my friends near Kingston, Ont. and I went to the Penitentiary to do Art Therapy under the title “life skills”.  This was a ‘jump in and swim’ situation, and I really learned a lot about my strengths and the power of art therapy.   In 1984  I exhibited in the Focus Magazine Show in Ottawa, and at the Open-Door Exhibition at the University of Ottawa,  my art was written up as being “Avant Garde.”

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When I was informed of my acceptance to the  MA program, they advised me that  I was accepted on condition that I move to Montreal. This condition was due to  supervision.    I had a huge garage sale, found an apartment in Montreal, and moved with my daughters, who were now in grade 7.  The older children had left home, married, or in studies.    Since I arrived in Montreal at the beginning of September most of the practicums had been chosen the only one that interested me was in Shawbridge Que.,  a minimal correctional establishment for adolescents  in the Laurentians, because of my summer experience at Warkworth, I was accepted.   Because Shawbridge was in the Laurentians and I did not have a car, I arranged to do a once a week 8-hour practicum day.  I had to travel by metro to a subway station at the very north of the city, and there I met a Social Worker, who drove the one hour into the Laurentian mountains.   I worked in the morning, 4 hours  in the Locked Unit with boys that had committed crimes of violence and I had to be equipped with a security belt, to warn the guard at the door if the client became aggressive.  My experience with these boys was invaluable. In the afternoons I could work with the girls after school hours from 3 until 7 pm.    I saw a group of girls, and some individual.  Then at 9 pm I returned to Montreal with the Social worker.  I wrote all my notes and did my studying in the  few hours before and after sessions  I had only a few courses to complete my BFA, in 1986 I presented a multimedia installation. En Suite  at Ottawa U. and I showed art at the Art Therapy Conference at the U. of Western Ontario. When I saw that Concordia was offering a Drawing 3 course in Italy,  I wrote Ottawa U, and got permission to do the course for my credits. I showed my art at the Villa Bourguignonne, Italy. When I returned from Italy, I sent my transcript to Ottawa U, they saw that I had taken studio courses for my MA, they accepted all these courses and awarded me my BFA.  , I started my  second practicum at MCH Child Psychiatry Dept. I graduated with an MA in Art therapy in 1993, with my research on The Reflection of the Self in the Art of Twins.    At that time there was no professional association in Canada.  The Concordia University program was designed on the model of the American Art Therapy Association, and they recognized Concordia as fulfilling all the American requirements. Upon graduation I applied for my professional membership and after a few years of art therapy practice at the Montreal Children’s Hospital I applied for my ATR.  While I lived in Montreal I took advantage of the many art shows by European Masters and I was lucky to have a face- to- face meeting with Leonard Cohen, who’s family home was across the street from I was billeted.

 Here is some early history published in Junge 2010, The Modern History of Art Therapy in the United States.  It includes an interview that Michelle Winkle of CiiAT had with Kay Collis, the founder of BCSAT and BCATA.  “In 1950 Marie Revai introduced art making to psychiatric patients at the Allen Institute and in 1977, during my time at Concordia, Marie attended many Thesis presentations, I often met her and her sister riding the metro.  She was a very friendly and gentle lady who acknowledged all the students. In 1980 Michael Edwards  founded the Concordia University Program, and he interviewed me when I applied to the program.

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The professional association  of (AATQ), Association des Arts Thérapeutes du Québec, was  founded by a group of Art Therapists and art therapy students.    Nancy Humber was the first president in 1982. The BCATA was founded by Kay Collis in 1978 and in Ontario TATI was founded  by  Dr. Fisher in 1967, and later CATA originated from there.

 When I arrived on the scene, the AATQ had to accept non-graduates on the board to survive, as not enough students had graduated.  So, this is how I became the secretary of President Yvon Lamy in 1985.  It was the year that the East and West of Canada decided to meet in Ontario to set up a  National Art Therapy Council of Canada I was told that  there was a lot of discussion on the curriculum, and ethics of Art Therapy Schools, and on the format of Supervision and on the master’s degree level of education.   CATA had already been established,  so, they returned home all being disappointed at not being able to establish a National Council Art Therapy  umbrella organization to guide art therapy schools in Canada.  The idea of  the East and West joining CATA came about only after Dr. Fisher’s death in 1992. It was at that time that I encouraged Concordia and CATA to organize the conference in Montreal, and later I encouraged BCSAT to join up with CATA.

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Its funny to reflect on the historical  facts that Concordia U. was and still is the only University, to provide a master’s degree in all of Canada and the minimum level of qualifications needed to practice in Quebec was and still is a master’s degree.  While the rest of Canada, had only private training institutes and the minimum level of qualifications was and still is a BA. Quebec now boasts a French BA . training program at

 U. Du Quebec.In the 1980’s while I was still a student.  CATA and Dr. Fisher came to Concordia for a one-day conference, which I attended,  I was fortunate that during my art therapy training Edith Kramer, Judith Rubin, Elinor Ulman, and Helen Landgarten, were invited to Concordia to give workshops, meeting these pioneers in person was enriching.

 

After my second practicum at the Montreal Children’s Hospital in 1984 I was hired to replace a psychoeducator who had left due to burnout.  It was an opportunity of a lifetime, as by then I was 53, which is not a very employable age.   I worked in the Day Treatment Center, 3 days a week, with Dr. Joyce Canfield as my supervisor. A few years later, Dr. Minde opened the Infant psychiatry department, and I joined them for 2 days per week and was supervised by Dr. Lee Tidmarsh.  The Infant Team was looking for a cost-effective way of working, due to budget cuts.  My colleague, psychoeducator Audrey Lowetts decided that a parent/child group would allow us to work with 5 dyads at a time.  We proposed a pilot project to work with dyads, with art therapy as one of the methods, to strengthen the relationship.  This is how parent-child-dyad art therapy started.   I worked in both these departments as a case manager, and psychoeducator and art therapist for 15 years.  In 1989, I conducted an Art Therapy workshop with parents of Adolescents  with my colleague Social Worker Rhona Bezonsky, she had written a book Reclaiming The Night, a guide to understand dream, and I provided the Illustration for the cover. 1995 I attended  Ontario Art Therapy Association Annual Conference, King’s College, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario,  The “I” in Art: Nurturing the Self. In 1995 I was invited to present at the  Conference annuelle de l’Association Des Art Thérapeutes du Québec (AATQ), Hull, Quebec.   In 1992 to Celebrate Montreal’s 250 birthday I participated in and “Art en Vitrine” show (Art in Shop Windows) on Mount Royal Ave., and many shows in a “Bringing Art To The Public” Series in a Restaurant on Ste. Catherine Street, Distortion Hangaroid,  Cycle de la Vie and Ca Sert a Rien are just a few of the show, I also encouraged local artists to show their work in that space.  My show Le Dernier Crie des Mastodontes de Tole  was written up in the local newspaper: Guide Mont Royal Oct., 1992.

 I presented my dyad work  with parents and children in the schools, at the  1999 Canadian Conference on Educating Students with Behavioural Disorders, Université Laval, Québec. The topic was  An Early School-based Integrative Therapeutic Kindergarten Program for Disruptive, Behaviourally Disordered and Developmentally Delayed Children (Group Parent-Child-Dyad Art therapy) .   Then in 1998 at the 13th National Training Institute Zero To Three Conference, Washington, D.C.  I  lectured.  The topic:  Disposition or Opposition. Understanding an Anxious and Difficult Child in a Cultural Context (Group Parent/Infant Art Therapy).  I was invited in 1998  to the Conference Annuelle de l’Association Des Art Thérapeutes du Québec (AATQ), Bishops College, Sherbrook, Quebec, the topic: Practical applications of Parent-Child-Dyad Art Therapy.  This was Joanne Hamel’s school; she is now an instructor for CiiAT and the author of several books.

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A change was happening at Concordia and the Art Therapy program was changed to a Creative Arts Therapies program with Art Therapy as an option. I presented my work at the 1998 Convergence 2000, 1st Creative Arts Therapies Conference, Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec on Parent-Child-Dyad Art therapy from infancy to school age.

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In 1996  at the Canadian Academy of Child Psychiatry, 16th Annual Meeting, Université Laval, Québec City, I gave a Poster Presentation: An Early School-Based Integrative Therapeutic Kindergarten Program for Disruptive, Behaviourally-Disordered and Developmentally-Delayed Children. Group Parent-Child-Dyad Art therapy.   Then in 1998 I was invited as  the Keynote Speaker  on my Attachment work for the CATA Conference in Nelson B.C.  In 1994 I presented  Attachment Issues and Art Therapy Interventions Lecture at  Selkirk College Symposium, Castlegar, BC, and gave multi-media courses for parent-child dyads; workshops in visual, performing and healing arts at Kaslo-on-the-Lake Summer School of the Arts, Kaslo, BC.   While I worked at MCH I introduce Art Therapy in a 10 week parenting course for parents and early education practitioners  at Step-by-Step Pre-School Program for Native Children Kahnawake, Quebec. In 1999 I was invited to the Université du Quebec, opening of their first Summer Course in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, as key note speaker and to present a workshop on attachment interventions.   From 1986 to 2001 I conducted Art Therapy seminars in Child Psychiatry at MCH; at the nursing school in Trois-Rivières, Quebec and gave presentations in French and English to: Sainte-Justine’s Hospital; Douglas Hospital; CLSC Côte Des Neiges; Centre Hospitalier du Centre-de-la-Mauricie; Table de concertation des infirmières du CLSC, Plateau-Mont-Royal.  As a busy professional I was also a busy parent, I became a grandmother for my three oldest daughters in Ottawa  and my son in B.C.   I travelled back and forth to visit. When I arrived in Montreal I became inspired by the old 3 layer sheds for coal and wood storage, that lined the back alleys of Plateau Mont Royal, I created over 50 different art pieces, using the material of these buildings that were being demolished.  I also had several art shows at a Gallery situated next door to our clinic.  I had a show there for my graduation, on the series of sheds called  Le Dernier Crie des Mastodonte de Tole about the artwork I made of the 3 story sheds  that were being demolished in Montreal.  I had another show call The Birth of a Mountain of artwork that I created when  teaching at Kaslo B.C.   I became a member of Le Cercle des Artistes Peintres et Sculptures du Quebec, and my art was shown at several venues in Montreal, and Internationally. I won several first prizes at the international art competitions held in Montreal and   I was  published in a book called Le Pluralism au Quebec by art historian Guy Robert , 1998, and in the Catalogue of the art exhibition in Aveiro Portugal (2000).  In the winter of 1998, Montreal was hit by a terrible Ice Storm.

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As a hospital worker I had to make my way into work through it all, although all the groups were cancelled, and  we saw no clients.  I covered the walls of my office with paper, and set up a table with art materials, then I invited all the staff: psychiatrist, psychologists, social workers, speech therapists, occupational therapist, everyone to come and express themselves on my walls.   It was fun to see everyone coming in individually and in couples (my office was small) to draw or throw paint unto the wall.  During my time at MCH, as I mentioned I had several art shows at the Gallery next door, and so Dr. Canfield asked me to set up art classes or workshops for the staff of the Day Treatment Center.  I did this once a month, using the principles of the book Drawing from the Right Hand Side of the Brain.  One of my colleagues Donna Casa Martin  who insisted she could not draw, used the paint on the easel, she is now an exhibiting  Quebec Artist. In 2000 MCH celebrated its 50th Anniversary and I was asked to create some art on the large blackboard in the Conference room.  Then when Dr. Minde left for a trip to Africa, I then decorated the board with a Bon Voyage piece. I also created a large mural collage from the artwork that the 3- to 5-year-old patients  had created in the dyad sessions with their parent.   I left the artwork at MCH when I retired

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In 2001 after moving to B.C. I found out that my colleague Linda Chapman an Art Therapist from the University of California, whom I had met at the 1998 Convergence conference in Montreal, and who had attended my workshop was talking about my work with infants and giving me credit for it. Therefore,  I was invited by many American groups to demonstrate my work and  I travelled to California State University, Sorority Organization: Alpha Theta Chapter Chi Sigma Iota Pro-D Training Workshop on Parent-Child Attachment; Lloma Linda University, California, Health Sciences, Early Childhood Clinical Program Pro-D Training Workshop on Attachment; Christians Addressing Child Abuse, Eugene, Oregon, Pro-D Training Workshop on Parent-Child-Dyad Art Therapy; Coos County Health Department, Myrtle Point, Oregon, Pro-D Training Workshops on Parent-Child Attachment .   I was hired to teach at the BC School of Art Therapy, founded by Kay Colis.  I started a private practice, I supervised the work of the Art Therapy Program at the Eric Martin and joined the BCATA,   and I wrote my book Strengthening Emotional Ties, published by Jessica Kingsley in 2003. I was  finding that in  Victoria, I was unable to get  stimulated and become inspired to create art, in the manner that I could in Montreal, so I decided to find some volunteer work abroad.

 

In 2004I was invited by Linda Chapman to participate in the Heart and Science of Child Therapy Conference in Los Angeles, CA, and there I met Eliana Gil, Sandra Hewitt, and Daniel Siegel.  That year  I left for a CUSO assignment in Bangkok Thailand, under the hospices of  Thammasat University to introduce art therapy and train the mental health professionals at  the Center for the Protection of Children’s Rights (CPCR).  My first assignment was to be on a Board presentation with other art therapists from the U.S.A. at a one-day conference called An Introductory Course on Art Therapy .  These art therapists  were in Thailand to offer help to the victims of the Tsunami.  I travelled with them to the Tsunami sites.   I lived and worked in Bangkok for 3 years.   My job description was to train the Mental Health Professional to art therapy methods, to assist the traumatized children and to do outreach work.    To my surprise, at my arrival, I observed the Resident Artist, Saijai Shriline (Oun) working with the whole group, young, adolescents and adults together.  She was a self trained art therapist, and I wondered what my work would be.  With the help of the Director Atchara, and with careful observations, I was able to assist Oun to change to smaller homogenous groups; to help create boundaries that would help contain and regulate the children and to begin and to help them understand the various applications of art materials.  In 2005,  I was interviewed by a Journalist, Matchima Sukkong  for Cheewajit Magazine , the article was called  From Mother to Art Therapist.   As well as training the trainers at CPCR I created professional development workshops, the Ritual Mandala workshop was the most popular, as the Thai did not usually create mandalas, the monks did. They said “you brought an Eastern concept to us from the West.   I also conducted  outreach day workshops on Introduction to Art Therapy  at universities and hospitals: Princess Sirindhorn Archeological Centre; Srinakarinwirot University;  King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital: Srilipakorn University;  Rachanukul Institute; Thammasat University;  Jittamet Kindergarten School.  I conducted  ten- week training workshop at:              

• Arsom Silp, Institute of Art and Development University : Art therapy theories and Applications.

o Srithanya Psychiatric Hospital, Child & Adolescent Ward:  Art therapy attachment and trauma informed therapy.

     o Siriaj Hospital, Child & Adolescent Psychiatric Ward: Infant and     child Art Therapy and Family Art Therapy and Mahidol University :  Introduction to Theories and Practice.

     o Baan Bhumivet Pak Kret Boys' Residential Home, Government Shelter Working with the boy inmates to allow them to express their grief and loss of their family and village.

 

When I went to Arsom Silp I met Dr. Jo (Patcharin Sughondhabirom, who had an art therapy practice.  She had received some training in the U.S.A., she had established the Human Center where parents an children could come to do art, and she had a clinic at the school.  She asked me for weekly supervision. She introduced me to Khun Pae ( Arjarn Jumphol Chinaprapath) who was working with children from kindergarten to higher grades who were diagnosed with Autism.  I also provided him with supervision  He is now writing a book on his methods, which he is dedicating to me his “teacher”.    He has created an open studio and exhibitions for Outsider Art.  He calls his Gallery presentations Self+Art. Dr. Penkhae Limsala MD says this about his work.  “I want to thank Arjarn Jumphol Chinaprapath, a teacher who understands children, who had ignited the fire within them, and who has trained these children until they can bring to light all their capabilities in art that they posses and are able to reveal their talents to the world with pride” .  While I was in Thailand, I travelled everywhere with my friend Tim, who was happy to show me all there was.  The Thai’s believe in an afterlife, and she and her brothers treated me as if I was their reborn mother.  It was an exciting experience to have.  I created a lot of art and left much of it with friends.   In Thailand I experienced one of my spirit animals.   In Canada I always felt a close connection with the Canada Goose, and my life journey was one of travelling.  In Ayutthaya where I was studying the Thai language, I had a short period of feeling alone and disconnected from my small group of much younger cooperants.  One day I visited the Elephant Coral and took my first ride on one.  I climbed the stairs up to the stand and removed my shoes to put my bare feet on the elephants back.   During my walk through the park I felt the Elephant energy fill my self with a feeling of strength and well being.   I connected with this animal in a spiritual way.   I had an elephant tattooed on my left ankle, so I would carry its spirit with me.

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After working for 3 years in Thailand, I returned to Canada in 2004, I moved to the Kutenays, and I went to work at ( KATI) The Kutenai Art Therapy Institute, Monica Carpendale’s school.  Monica and I have been colleagues for many years.  I began teaching, directing thesis, and supervising students at KATI.  I worked there for 5 years. In 2007 I went to the CATA Conference with Monica in Calgary.  This was the 28th Annual CATA Conference:  When the arts shape therapy.  A shift in art therapy research and practice.    I had a different view of CATA.  Dr. Fisher had passed away in 1992 and things were changing in his schools and with the Association.  I became a member of CATA and applied for my CATA Registration.  I became involved in presenting  work shops on Parent-child-Dyad art therapy, and in selling my newly published book and the DVD’s that Monica had been instrumental to my creating with the help of psychologist  Dr Mirna Martin who provided me with the mothers and children to create this demonstration video.  The student doing her practicum at the Waldorf school organized the older children’s groups. I became member at large of the CATA Board and helped to bring about a reconciliation by encouraging a  bilingual conference, Art as Witness in Montreal, Quebec. In the winter of 2009, I was in Chile, and  I presented my Attachment work to the art therapists at Universidad de Chile, Santiago.  I also attended the 30th Annual Conference: Mosaic, in Winnipeg, Man.  I was the CATA representative on the Conference Committee to help and support the group hosting the conference.  In 2009 I presented  a Pre-conference all-day workshop on Art Therapy, Attachment and Brain Development for the AATA Conference in  Ohio, USA and I met Dr. Bruce Perry.   2009 was a busy year as I moved back to Victoria and returned to my teaching post at BCSAT. BCSAT had experienced a big changed while I was in Thailand:  they moved from Lee Ave to the Bank St. School of Art, and Michelle Winkle was the Executive  Director.  I  was able  to convince BCSAT that it was time the CATA conference be held on the Island.   CATA and BCSAT planned and executed the 2010 Conference,  Roots and Branches of the Healing Arts at the QUW’UTSUN’Cultural & Conference Center, Duncan B.C.  in August of 2010. It was coordinated by Roxanne Strasbourg (living in Chemainus, Medis Naimi living in Parksville, and myself as the CATA  Chairperson.   It was at this conference that the Board of Directors of the BCSAT advised me that Michelle Winkle was leaving her post and I was approached to take over the Executive Director Position, which I accepted.   By this time, I had worked with CATA and conference committees in Montreal, Winnipeg, and Duncan, and I liked this role, so I remained as a member at large in charge of coordinating the conferences until  I was elected as Vice President of the CATA Board, in 2015 I decided to take on the responsibility of organizing the conferences.   I was the CATA Conference contact and support for:

2011, Here and Now Conference in Niagara Falls, Ontario,

 2012 Ever-Widening Circles Conference with St. Stephens ‘college and the CATA Prairie Chapter in Edmonton, Alberta.

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I presented  workshops at CATA conferences  from 1998 to 2019 less 2013, 14, 15. I when I was out of the country with  IPATT or JIPATT.

In  2012  I founded IPATT  with Dr. Jo  , The International Program of Art Therapy in Thailand. In 2013  I was approached by the Quest Institute of Art in Tokyo, and I  founded JIPATT with Kazz Shibasaki, the Japan International Program of Art Therapy in Tokyo. In 2016,   I left the board and  passed the task on to  Gilda Raimondi  the Conference organization.

During this time I often went to teach in JIPATT and in IPATT and  I responded to a request from Red Pencil, an Art therapy group in Singapore, they were looking for art therapists to go to their “train the trainers” in Phom Phen Cambodia.  I responded and went to this program for 3 different training programs.   I worked for the Hagar Institute that rescued and protected children from the sex trade, labour exploitation and abandonment.

From 2012 to 2020 I was the Executive Director of CiiAT.  I went back and forth to  the  schools in Thailand and Japan to teach. We had our first Graduation at IPATT in 2016 and graduated both Saijai Shriline (Oun) and Jumphol Chinaprapath (Khun Pae) with their Art Therapy Certificates. The second graduation was in2019, when I was given the title of Grandmother of Art Therapy in Thailand.  Covid 19 has caused the delay in the next graduation in both schools.

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In 2017 the exhibition PHRONESIS, at the Cedar Hill Community Center Gallery a retrospective show to celebrate my 85th birthday.  Phronesis is the nick name that my friend Monica Carpendale gave me.  It means “able to do anything.”

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In 2019 while I was in Thailand,  I was scheduled to open and run  a day conference to introduce art therapy in Bangalore, India.  Through a series of unfortunate circumstances, I missed my plane connections.   CiiAT came to the rescue and Michelle and Cheryl Ann presented the Introduction to Art Therapy Virtually, it was a big success and introduced the virtual method of teaching art therapy from Canada to countries abroad.

In 2019 Michelle and I were invited to teach a 10-day Attachment Informed Art Therapy Certification Course at the Dr. Gama Abou El-Azayem Psychiatric Hospitals in Cairo Egypt.  We also presented an introduction to art therapy lecture  at  the Alexandria University,  Egypt, after visiting the famous Alexandria library,  we then travelled to Israel and presented at the  Israel Art Therapy Association Conference, Haifa University on attachment and brain development. We then presented workshops in the studio of Judith Siano our hostess in Israel.   By 2020 CiiAT was known internationally, and I was invited to  The Bharat Panchal Dialogues, in association with G.D. Goenka University, New Delhi, India for Virtual Introduction to Art Therapy.

In January 2021 I was diagnosed with cancer and in February I underwent a Mastectomy, it was time for me to step down from my post in CiiAT, so I became Director Emeritus.  In order to help in my transition to a reduced involvement in CIIAT I retained my commitment to IPATT and JIPATT, with some virtual teaching, thesis management and hosting a student monthly virtual group called “Take an Elephant Ride with Lucille” with IPATT.  I am presently recording my teaching lectures for the IPATT library.

I wrote a chapter for the book The Reality of Virtual Art Therapy, edited by Michelle Winkle,  Squaring the Schaverien Triangle, published by Routledge, 2022

In December 2021 I was invited by Dr. Abdelbacet Touati to be the Conference Keynote speaker/guest of honour,  at the Medicine Culture et Art Conference in Tunisia, with the support of The Proulx Global Education and Community Foundation. I was unable to attend, and I asked Pierre Plante to replace me.

In 2022 The Exhibition “The Woman on the Towel” in the Grand Gallery of the McTavish Academy of the Arts, celebrated my 90th birthday. Due to Covind 19 restrictions the opening ended up being on March 8, the International Women's Day and a group from the Association of University Women of Victoria, came to visit my show and to honour me.  Then I was interviewed for the Seaside Magazine.

I had been  advised that my book Attachment Informed Art Therapy is being published in Arabic. I have begun thinking and writing a book with Monica Hinrich called An Art Therapy Approach to Assessing Attachment Categories Through Family Drawing, which I hope to continue after Monica’s retirement.  We also want to upgrade  Strengthening Emotional Ties L’art-thérapie après des groups.  Réflexions théoriques et développements cliniques.  Sous la direction de Lise Pelletier et Jacinthe Lambert, publier par Presse de L’université du Québec has Just been pubished and I have received my copy as Chapter 8 was written by Pierre Plante and I.  I painted small pieces of art for each graduate of IPATT and CiiAT, to accompany their graduation certificates.  This tradition I will continue as long as I am able to. 

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In January 2023, I celebrated my 91st birthday in New Orleans with my daughters Dyan and Victoria.  I have been invited as guess speaker for the AATQ conference in April, and I am in the process of written Art Heals—Art Saves; A Therapeutic Discussion;  A Journey with Breast Cancer. with my colleague Dr. Joe in Bangkok. I hope it will be published by 2024.  In English and Thai, with a translation in Arabic by my colleague Manale.  Twice weekly I volunteer my time to teach two courses at Silver Threads Services:

Readers Theatre and Art for Anyone.

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I am now volunteering to help with the 100 year celebration of the CP Lawn Bowling and Croquet Club.

A list of my publications and Art Exhibitions and other accomplishments:

Proulx et al in Lise Pelletier et al (2022) L’Art-Thérapie auprès de groupes.   Chapitre 8. Page 182 à 199. La pertinence de l’art thérapie auprès des groupes de dyades parent-enfant. Lucille Proulx et Pierre Plante.   

Proulx, L. (2018). Strengthening Attachment Ties with Dyad Art Therapy. Victoria, BC: Printorium Books, Island Blue.

Proulx, L. (2017). Attachment Informed Art Therapy: Strengthening Emotional Ties Throughout the Lifetime. Victoria, BC: Tellwell Talent.

Arabic Edition: Dar Nour El Ma’aref, Cairo. Egypt

Proulx, L., et al. (2015). Art Therapy with Families in Canada. In C. Kerr (Ed.), Multicultural Family Art Therapy, Chapter 2, pp. 22-33. NY: Routledge. Lucille Proulx & Michelle Winkle.

Proulx, L. et al (2007), Editor. Creative Therapeutic Arts with Children. A reference book for professionals working with children who suffered abuse through neglect, sexual or physical abuse and illness, as well as children with developmental delays. Published in Bangkok, in Thai Language.

Proulx, L. (2005). Parent-child Dyad Art Therapy. In J.A. Rubin, Producer, Child Art Therapy (3rd ed.) [DVD]. Pittsburg, PA: Expressive Media.

Proulx, L. (2004). Art Therapy and Attachment. In J.A. Rubin, Producer, Child Art Therapy Has Many Faces [DVD]. Pittsburg, PA: Expressive Media.

Proulx, L. (2003). Strengthening Emotional Ties through Parent-Child-Dyad Art Therapy: An Intervention for Infants and Preschoolers. London, England: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

Hebrew Edition: Haifa, Israel: Ach Publishing House Ltd.

Arabic Edition: Cairo, Egypt Dar Nour El Ma’aref

Proulx L. (2003). Strengthening Emotional Ties. Educational DVD.

Proulx, L. (2002). Strengthening Ties, Parent-Child-Dyad Group Art Therapy with Toddlers and their Parents. American Journal of Art Therapy, 40, pp. 238-258. Gladys Agell, Editor. Vermont, USA: Norwich University.

Proulx, L. (2001). Parent-Child-Dyad Art Therapy Communiqué, Association des Art-thérapeutes du Québec (AATQ) Journal, 19(2) Montréal, Québec.

Proulx, L. (2000). Container, Contained, Containment: Group Dyad Art Therapy with Toddlers 18 to 30 months and their parents. Canadian Journal of Art Therapy, 14(1), pp 3–6.

Proulx and Minde, (1995). Une expérience de groupe pour pères et enfants. PRISME: Psychiatrie, recherche et intervention en santé mentale de l'enfant, Été, 5(2-3), pp 191-200.

Proulx, L. (1993). The Reflection of the Self in the Art of Twins. Master’s Thesis. Montreal, Quebec: Concordia University.

Proulx, L. (1990). Pre-Toilet Training. How to Help Yourself, Your Child and the Environment. Growth Spurts, 15, pp. 9-10. Kitchener, Ontario.

Proulx, L. (1988). The Blabbermouth Body: The Principles of Movement Therapy Seen Through Parent-Twin Interactions. Copyright, 1986. DOUBLE FEATURE: Canada’s Newsletter for Parents of Twins, Triplets and Quads;. and Parents of Multiple Births Association of Canada (POMBA). Winter 1987-88, pp. 12-13.

Proulx, L. (1983). Twins—together/separate—Win. Self Published. Concordia University Printing Services.

Proulx, L. (1983). Pipi...Popo. Self Published. University of Ottawa Printing Services.

Proulx, L. (1982). Toilet Training...with love. Self-Published. Montreal: LetroMac Desktop Publishing.

 

VOLUNTEERING

 Art Instrutor:  Silver Threads Services:  Readers theater and Art for Anyone 2021—now

Information Desk:   The Royal Victoria Museum:  2015 -- 2023

Board Member, Cook St. Seniors’ Activity Center, Victoria, BC 2020-2021

Volunteer: Canadian Art Therapy Association (CATA) 2007-2011

Advisory Board Member, Arts Health Canada/BC 2010-2011

Cuso Cooperant:  Center for the Protection of Children’s Rights, Bangkok, Thailand 2004—2007

Red Pencil, Singapore:  The Hagar Institute, Phom Phen, Cambodia 2010

Workshop ~ French women’s group, Victoria, BC 2002-2011

President & Board Member of The Parents of Multiple Birth’s 1978-1998

Association of Canada (POMBA) ~ Local and National

President of The Ottawa Twins Parents’ Association 1976-1998

Board Member, Association d'éducation préscolaire 1980-1983

Ottawa-Carleton

Francophone Outreach Coordinator, Parents’ Pre-school 1980-1983

Resource Centre, Ottawa

AWARDS, HONOURS & ACHIEVEMENTS

Association des Art-thérapeutes du Québec (AATQ)(HLM) 2016

Honoured by the AATQ in Montreal in recognition of service

in the advancement and promotion of art therapy in Quebec.

Exhibiting Artist: 1961-Present

In private collections and galleries at home and abroad

2022 The Woman on the Towel.  March. 90th Birthday celebration

Grand Art Gallery, McTavish Academy of Art, Saanich.

Art Retrospective: Phronesis (Art of Energy, Art of Living) 85th birthday.

Exhibition of work (1960-2015) at the Art Gallery of Cedar Hill

Recreation Centre, Victoria, BC.

Financial assistance awarded by the Community Arts Council,

BC Arts Council and the Capital Regional District (CRD).

 

 POTPOURRI ,  June/July 2022  Saanich Municipal Hall

A medley of art subjects, and media, that portrays my 90 year old Saanich resident’s energy and love of life and art.​

Le Gala International des Arts Visuels (Annual International

Visual Arts competition)

Cercle des Artistes Peintres et Sculpteurs du Québec, Montréal

Médailles d’Or Catégorie (Gold Medal Category):

“Figurations Autres” 1999

“Abstractions Diverses” 1998

Acrylique Painting, ”Lumière Jaune” 1984

Mixed Media Drawing, ”103 Clarance (sic) Street” 1980

Médailles d’Argent Catégorie (Silver Medal Category)

“Impact Critique” 1996

“Impact Critique” 1995

“Bois de Grange et Photos Fantasme” 1996

Multi-Media pièces, “Ca sert à rien” 1995

Médailles de Bronze Catégorie (Bronze Medal Category)

“Figurations Autres” 1997

Multi-Media Montage: “Superstition avant le mariage” 1990

Board of Directors Certificate of Appreciation: 1994

Parents of Multiple Births Association (POMBA) 1985

1984

Art Prize Winner: Council for the Arts in Ottawa 1985

Work selected for Juried Exhibition: 1980

Galerie 521 Sussex, Ottawa

“103 Clarance (sic) Street”

2019  Grand mother of Art Therapy in Thailand award

2018 India Missed plane

RADIO, TELEVISION

2023 Radio Canada  Interview by Celyne Gagnon Radio Canada. “Art as Healing”

2022 Feb.  Seaside Magazine  Article: Talking with Lucille Proulx.  Interviewed by Stephanie Staples, photo by Janis Jean Photography

2020 Priegert, Portia. Art & Healing: Part 2. Galleries West Magazine. An article citing her experience of an online therapeutic session through the Canadian International Institute of Art Therapy (CiiAT), and interview with Lucille Proulx and Michelle Winkel. https://www.gallerieswest.ca/magazine/stories/art-healing-part-2/

2019 Grandmother of Art Therapy in Thailand. Cover of Art Book

2007 Nuntachaibucha, Chanriatip. From Mother to Art Therapist, Cheewit Thai Magazine, p. 198.

2004 Marcotte, Danielle. MICRO-MIDI CBC FRENCH RADIO interview on an art workshop which I was animating for a woman’s group, Le Groupe de Femme de La Colombie Britanique.

2003 Basque, Ghislain. MICRO-MIDI CBC FRENCH RADIO interview on life as an artist and art therapist

2002 Marcotte, Danielle. MICRO-MIDI CBC FRENCH RADIO author interview of book, Strengthening Emotional Ties through Parent-Child-Dyad Art Therapy.

2000 Universidade de Aveiro, Catálogo da exposição, Aveiro, Portugal “Superstition avant le mariage,” p. 44.

1998 Robert, Guy. “Le Pluralisme dans l’art au Quebec,” Proulx Art page; Ganesha, 1991 and Hangar du Plateau, 1991.

1997 Pormorants, Shelley. ALL IN A WEEKEND, CBC RADIO. Panel Discussion on Art Therapy.