ART on Wheels-Missouri was up and running in Joplin!

Judith Fowler’s ART on Wheels-Missouri “ART RESCUE MISSION” brought Art Therapy and Therapeutic Art services to children and adults affected by the May 22nd Tornado in Joplin.

Judith Fowler, a Registered Art Therapist and Professor of Art at Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri, initiated this disaster relief program for the community of Joplin.

Judith’s vision involved several interesting projects to help victims of the tornado cope with stress and emotional trauma brought on by the tornado.

1. ★ART RESCUE TEAMS: the organization of teacher volunteers. Five teams were formed, with two members per team. Each team used a large ART TUB full of basic art materials (markers, watercolors, pastels, tempra, and color papers) for their volunteer service.
   

2. ★JOPLIN FAMILY-Y: In July, five ART RESCUE teams provided Therapeutic Art Activities at two Joplin Family-Y locations. Over 170 children enjoyed a wide variety of art activities over a two-week time span. When possible, each Art Rescue Team will continue volunteer “art service” beyond the summer workshops and will use the ART TUBS throughout the year during weekends and holidays.
   

1. ★ART THERAPY CAMP at the LAFAYETTE HOUSE: In August, Judith and two other nationally registered Art Therapists, including a Movement Therapy Specialist, conducted a four-day ART THERAPY CAMP at the Lafayette House. In addition, an art therapy workshop for the counseling staff and a painting session for the Lafayette Clothesline Exhibition was in full process. Artworks from the Clothesline project were displayed during Domestic Violence Month.
   

1. ★BUTTERFLY GROUPS: As part of the Butterfly Group initiative, Judith continued to work with tornado victims from the Ozark Center on Friday afternoons. Plans included a weekend group art activity, similar to an art fair.
   

1. ★COLLEGE CHRISTIAN HEIGHTS FAMILY NIGHT: Joan, Linda, Judith, and Joan’s daughter, Amelia, presented a Therapeutic Arts Night at College Heights Christian Church, on Monday evening, August 8th. Around 35 participants enjoyed art making.
   

1. ★FREEMAN OZARK MENTAL HEALTH CENTER: Judith worked with six clients at the Ozark Center on Friday afternoons during the month of July. As the first Butterfly Group, Judith continued to see these clients once a month for watercolor painting, mask making, SketchJournals, and Mandala drawing.
   

Joan Phillips, PhD, ATR-BC of Norman, OK and Linda Marcy, MS,ATR-BC from Nebraska provided a variety of art therapy services during their stay in August.  Beyond the art camp at Lafayette House, they facilitated an open-studio workshop at College Heights Christian Church.  Both Joan and Linda have experience with de-briefing and post-disaster work. Joan’s daughter, Amelia Reiser, a Movement Specialist, participated in these Art Rescue events and brought dance and movement therapy to the mix!

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4. Joan Phillips, PhD, ATR-BC, of Norman, Oklahoma.
   

5. University of Oklahoma faculty and clinician.
   

6. Joan received a Fullbright Scholarship Award and
   

7. presented art therapy programs in Ireland.
   

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9. Joan coordinated the Art Therapy Graduate Program
   

10. at the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Oklahoma,
    

11. before her untimely death in 2016.
    

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1. Linda Marcy, MS, ATR-BC, of Lincoln, Nebraska.
   

2. Artist/Art Therapist. Linda has relatives in Joplin
   

3. who lost their homes in the tornado, so she often
   

4. visits the Joplin area when time allows.
   

1. Judith Fowler, MFA, ATR, Joplin/Carthage, Missouri.
   

2. Former Professor of Art and Art Education at Missouri State University 1997-2014.
   

3. Professor Emeritus, MSU, 2014.
   

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5. Judith presently maintains three studios in the Springfield, Joplin, and Carthage areas.
   

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7. During her teaching years at MSU in Springfield, Judith served as Western Region Representative for
   

8. the “Caucus on The Spiritual in Art Education”
   

9. (CSAE.ORG). CSAE is a specialty NAEA (National Art Education Association) caucus group.
   

Judith’s initiative involved Art Therapy workshops for families experiencing trauma in the aftermath of the May 22nd tornado beyond the first year.

These specialized workshops, called “The BUTTERFLY groups” were held at the Ozark Center, Judith’s studio, and various alternate locations on a monthly basis.