HOLLY CARR'S LIGHT IN THE FOREST STORY : THE EVOLUTION OF AN EXHIBIT INTO A SHOW AND A BOOK
In 2013, Light in the Forest was originally created as an interactive larger than life silk installation for the Acadia University art gallery.
Holly's original inspiration for creating the installation was because her then young son was struggling with anxiety and she used the creative process to explore his fear and memories of her own childhood fears. Searching for a way to take the viewer through the dark then back into the light through her interactive installation.
In 2018 and into 2019 tragically 4 young people from Holly's friend circle and community took their lives. She wanted to do something, shine a light on what was happening, create a beacon of hope. Holly believes “Light in the Forest” the multimedia theatre production , the Exhibit and the companion book contains a message of hope that shines a light on and de stigmatize mental health issues in particular anxiety and depression.
Holly's original inspiration for creating the installation was because her then young son was struggling with anxiety and she used the creative process to explore his fear and memories of her own childhood fears. Searching for a way to take the viewer through the dark then back into the light through her interactive installation.
In 2018 and into 2019 tragically 4 young people from Holly's friend circle and community took their lives. She wanted to do something, shine a light on what was happening, create a beacon of hope. Holly believes “Light in the Forest” the multimedia theatre production , the Exhibit and the companion book contains a message of hope that shines a light on and de stigmatize mental health issues in particular anxiety and depression.
Photos from virtual world capture and production film 2020
TESTIMONIAL
“There have been many memorable and creative people in my life and Holly Carr is certainly among them. Her work is at once playful and powerful, her pieces stand as sumptuous decoration and as wry whimsy at the same time.
Holly’s vision for “Light in the Forest” is inspiring. The forest has always been a place of great art, magic and restorative tranquility.” Robert Bateman, Canadian Wildlife Artist.
Holly Carr, Visual Artist, Creator, Director and Designer. Holly has gained national acclaim for her unique style of silk painting. She has participated in numerous group and solo shows and continues to exhibit nationally. Holly has designed for theatre productions and large-scale public installations. In 2019 Holly won a Merritt Award for outstanding set design for her set designs for “Half Cracked” a Neptune Theatre/Eastern Front Theatre collaboration. Holly has created a number of larger than life installations, including a 60-foot round installation entitled “The Terrarium” at the Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History. Her most ambitious installation to date is an environment created out of painted silk, “Light in the Forest” for Acadia University Art Gallery. Her work has been widely used in advertising and illustration, including her first children’s book “What is Pink”. In recent years Holly has branched out in to performance art, where she paints large works live on stage. Her live performance has taken her around the world, working with numerous musicians and performers including a cross Canada tour with Stuart McLean and the Vinyl Café, as well as performances with world renowned violinist Min Lee in Singapore and a number of performances with the National Art Centre Orchestra in Ottawa. Holly has also had successful performances with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and her own show with Symphony Nova Scotia where she painted an 8 x 32-foot painting live with the orchestra. Holly most recently performed with the Toledo Symphony in Ohio. Holly was invited to teach and perform as an artist in residence at the Canadian International School in Hong Kong. Holly graduated from Nova Scotia College of Art and Design with a BFA and B.A.Ed. Her work can be found in numerous private and public collections. |
Lydia Zimmer, choreographer, is a graduate of Walnut Hill School for the Arts and The Boston Conservatory (BFA). Since returning to her home city of Halifax, Lydia has created several works supported by Canada Council for the Arts and Arts NS. These include Bonne Nuit, presented through Live Art Dance; Embankment, commissioned by Votive Dance; Sonderlings, commissioned by Nostos Dance Collectives, and Sondering, a solo presented by FODAR. Lydia completed a dance residency at Nes Artist Residency in Skagastrond, Iceland, and a choreographic residency in Sofia, Bulgaria at the Derida Dance Centre. This past summer Lydia participated in Banff Centre for Creativity’s Music and Dance Creative Composition Lab. She currently works for Mocean Dance, Nostos Dance Collectives and Votive Dance. |