Helen Lark Oswald Lucas

Lark Oswald Lucas passed away on Monday, December 11, 2023 at the age of 90. She was born on March 2, 1933 to William McKinley and Belle Mac Vichie Oswald and was the oldest of four children. She graduated from East High School and the University of Utah with a B.A. in Art Education and a Teaching Certificate. She studied art at Chouinard's Art Institute in Los Angeles, California. At age 57, she returned to school and earned a Master's Degree in Art Education/Art Therapy from the University of New Mexico. She went on to earn a PhD from Columbia Pacific University. The title of her dissertation was Aging Women in Contemporary America.
Lark was an adjunct faculty member at the University of New Mexico, teaching undergraduate art education classes and supervising undergraduate student teachers. She also taught classes for the University of New Mexico Division of Continuing Education and the Women's Center. She was a certified Art Therapist and Mental Health Counselor with a particular interest in gerontology, the process of aging and the problems relating to old age. She participated in numerous workshops having to do with art therapy, gerontology, and personal development.
She was married to radio personality Willis “Will” Lucas and they had five children. Will passed away in 1977 and daughter Jody passed away in 1982 at age 24. After Will's death, Lark moved to Ben Lomond, California and later to Albuquerque, New Mexico before returning to Salt Lake in 2005.
Lark lived in Albuquerque for 15 years and during that time she was involved in various community volunteer and teaching activities: AmeriCorps (VISTA) volunteer, Intergenerational Specialist with the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), volunteer for the Genesis Women's Center where she led art therapy groups for female felony offenders on parole, volunteer at the Sunrise Regional Treatment Center, volunteer at the Acoma Pueblo working with inpatient groups and individual adolescent Native Americans, Artist in Residence at various elementary schools, and Board Member of the New Mexico Arts and Crafts Festival.
Lark's declining health and a desire to live near her family and old friends prompted her return to Salt Lake. She relished being a student again, taking classes in a number of different subjects and continuing to teach art classes for seniors and ceramic tile classes for the University of Utah's Osher Lifelong Learning Institute.
Lark was a gifted teacher, art therapist, and artist proficient in many mediums. She is best known for her colorful glazed tile ceramic paintings and murals. The first major exhibit of her tile paintings was held in Utah in 1979. This was followed by shows in other galleries in Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and California. For many years, she sold her paintings at the Park City and Salt Lake City Art Festivals.
She enjoyed teaching art and art therapy as much as being an artist and enjoyed teaching children and adults of all ages. As Lark said, “Creating beautiful works of art is a fantastic challenge; assisting people of all ages to find their own beauty through art is, for me, even more challenging.
The subject matter of her art focused on Native American and Mexican women and children. Her paintings and murals, some as large as 10 by 20 feet, were always colorful and showed great empathy for her subjects.
Her life was far from easy as she and her extended family battled suicide, bipolar disorder, alcoholism, eating disorders, and depression. As a recovering alcoholic and single parent, she provided unconditional love and never-ending support to her family.
She is survived by her children Holly (Dave) Carling, Tiffany Lucas, Alf Lucas, Lincoln Lucas, grandchildren London (Nate) McMurrin, McDevan (Kristen) Carling; great-grandchildren Leonardo Chavez, Weston McMurrin, Jazmyn McMurrin, Rowan Carling, and Ashton Carling; siblings Bill (Mavis) Oswald, Fred (Linda) Oswald and Mac (Leslie) Oswald, as well as many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and daughter Jody.
Lark will be laid to rest during a graveside service that will be on Friday, December 15 at 1:30 PM at the Salt Lake City Cemetery, 200 N St E, Salt Lake City. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to charity.