Watch the now available video about Carol Lark created by Judy Rubin!

The Carol Lark Art Therapy Award sponsored by MATA is an initiative that began to honor the memory of Carol Lark, PhD, ATR-BC, GCP. Carol was an exceptional human being in addition to being a well-known art therapist, assistant professor at SIUE, mentor, artist, mother, wife, grandmother, and much more. She touched the lives of many and was an influential contributor and very active in her community. She is still profoundly missed by many over 8 years after her passing following a 9-month courageous fight against Leukemia.
 
Carol Lark passed away on October 7, 2009. In her short 63 years, she lived a life seeking knowledge and healing for others. As the daughter of U.S.A.F. aviator and WWII veteran, Carol’s formative years were spent experiencing the world. She chose St. Louis, Missouri to be her stable home in 1967 where she began her own family by marrying her husband John with whom she had three children. Carol’s strong interest for knowledge carried her back to her education where she eventually earned a doctorate in Applied Psychology and Art Therapy.

​Carol had many passions. She was particularly committed to serve her community in many ways. With her education and experiences, Carol worked in many capacities including The Art Therapy Center of St. Louis, St. John’s Mercy Medical Center, and the Craft Alliance Family Arts Program in St. Louis. She eventually joined the SIUE Art and Design faculty in 2003. As an instructor, Carol helped to educate and form new art therapists. She was inspirational and a mentor to many. With her witty personality and profound knowledge of human nature, she conducted her classes by captivating and engaging her students, making the learning process enjoyable and enlightening.   

Carol’s interests did not stop with her professional life. She in fact loved sailing, baking pies, tending to her gardens and caring for her pets. She was also a supporter of the arts in St. Louis with a special love for the Missouri Botanical Gardens. It is there where Carol added to the landscape through her artistic abilities, her talent at drumming, skills in constructing and honoring the labyrinth as a healing tool.
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Despite a valiant battle with Leukemia, Carol continued to be a positive force not letting her disease take from her desire continually inspiring others. Anyone who met or contacted Carol walked away a better person.