Holly Carr Bio
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 “Half Cracked” a Neptune/Eastern Front collaboration. Her most ambitious installation to date is a larger-than-life environment created out of painted silk, “Light in the Forest” for Acadia University Art Gallery which has been redesigned as a mental wellness, multimedia production that she is currently touring all regions of Nova Scotia. Light in the Forest is also an award-winning children’s book and an App. Holly has partnered with the NS ministry of Mental Health and Addictions to create a permanent Light in the Forest Exhibit that opened at the NS Museum of Natural History, Fall, 2024.
Holly has also partnered with the Canadian Mental Health Association (NS Div) creating” The Comfort Tree” a story trails project for the Portapique Community. The project was published as a children’s book in 2024.
In 2003 Holly branched out into performance art, where she paints large works live on stage. 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 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 and most recently the Toledo Symphony in Ohio. Holly has traveled internationally with her work, exhibiting, teaching and performing in Peru, Hong Kong and Singapore. Holly graduated from Nova Scotia College of Art and Design with a BFA and B.A.Ed. Holly’s work can be found in numerous private and public collections. To learn more about Holly’s work visit, www.hollycarr.com and www.lightintheforest.ca
Education: Nova Scotia College of Art and Design University. 1983-1988 B.F.A, B.A.Ed.
1991-1992 Masters Art Education Program- Assistant to Professor.
Public School Art Teacher Full time/Substituting/Teachers Inservice’s, 1989-1999.
Designer: Selected Design Projects
2024 “The Comfort Tree” Story Trail Installation, Portapique, Nova Scotia
2024 “The Comfort Tree” Children’s Book. Writer Illustrator, Plumleaf Press. Ontario.
2024 “Light in the Forest” Permanent touring exhibit. Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History.
2024-Present 55 ft. Mural for Pictou Cultural Hub.
2024 Art installation for Red Spruce Counseling Acadia University.
2024 HRM “Ride With Me” Community Street mural project.
2020-2023 Sets, Costumes, Animation for “Light in the Forest”.
2020 “Light in the Forest” Children’s book. Writer/Illustrator Rubicon Publishing, Ontario.
2018 “Half Cracked” Designed silk panel sets for the joint production of Eastern Front and Neptune Theatre.
2016 “The Big Build” Designed artwork for the largest Lego mural in Canada Discovery Centre, Halifax.
2015 Three-Tiered Silk Installation. Hong Kong, Canadian International School.
2014 Painted 50 yds. of silk for Mermaid Theatre “Stella Queen of the Snow” Sets.
2014 Illustrations for “Note Kids” Piano education books.
2013 Port of Wines, Halifax. Created 50 ft. banner for feature country Italy.
2013 Art work for Pete’s Frootique Wine Truck.
2012 Confrerie des chevaliers du tastevin, Burgandy Wine Conference Halifax.
Designed art work to brand the event. Promotional Material, Menus, Wine Label.
2012 Port of Wine Festival, Halifax. Designed and built thirty, 12ft. illuminated silk pillars and a 50ft. backdrop for the event.
2011 Opening of Dalhousie Science Centre. Designed and built two 50ft. banners depicting the human body from synapses to the entire body.
2011 Port of Wine Festival, Halifax. Designed, and created a 50ft. banner for the feature country Australia.
2010 ICE Awards (Creative Advertising Award) Designed installation for stage backdrop. 45x10ft.
2010 Cadance production of “The Nutcracker” Atlantic Theatre Festival. Designed and painted 40x15ft. back drop of “Candy Land”
2009 Port of Wines Festival, Halifax. Designed 50ft. backdrop and entry way for event.
1999 – 2009 Designed two shows for Mermaid Theatre including sets costumes and puppets and created hand painted silk yardage for the productions. “When Dinosaurs Dine by Moonlight” written by Sheree Fitch. “The Little Lame Prince” Dinah Maria Mulock Craik. I have also designed fabric for a number of other Mermaid productions.
Performance
2002 – Present. I have developed a performance art technique where I paint live on large silk screens to music and spoken word. I have also mounted a number of my own productions where I combine monologue and live painting. I do approximately 20 shows a year nationally.
Selected Performances
2024 Light in the Forest, Halifax, Multi Media /Theatre production. Kentville, NS.
2024 Live Painting for Lung PEI Event, Halifax.
2024 Live painting with Stadacona Band. Spatz Theatre Halifax.
2023 Canadian Dental Conference. Winnipeg.
2021-2023 “Light in the Forest” Live painting, Halifax, Wolfville, Bridgewater.
2020 Light in the Forest, Stage film.
2019 Light in the Forest, Halifax, Multi Media /Theatre production. (Created, produced and performed.)
2019 Toledo Symphony, Ohio. Live Painting.
2018 National Art Centre Orchestra, Vivaldi Four Seasons, Ottawa. Live Painting.
2017 “The Women I am and the Stories We Tell” Live Art, Halifax NS.
2016 North Bay Symphony “Inspirations” North Bay Ontario. Live Painting
2009-2017 “Robert Pilon and Friends” 12 shows across Canada, most recently in NFLD. Live Painting
2015 “Nocturnes on Silk” Nocturne Halifax, NS, Live Painting
2015 Hong Kong Canadian International School. Hong Kong. Live Painting.
2014 Mocean Dance Collaboration. Live performance painting. Halifax, NS
2013 Ice Castle, Yellowknife, NWT
2013 Laval Symphony, A series of performances for family shows. Laval, Quebec.
2012 Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra and TorQ at Roy Thompson Hall, Toronto
2012 Halifax Waterfront Development Ocean Day Celebration with Scott McMillan’s Celtic Mass for the Sea with Symphony Nova Scotia.
2010-2013 Boris Brott and the Hamilton Symphony Orchestra. 6 shows.
2010- Symphony Nova Scotia “Holly’s Magic Brush” (30ft live painting)
2010-“Women Only” My own production at Pier 21 Halifax.
2010-Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Manitoba.
2009- “One Enchanted Evening” My own production at Marigold Theatre, Truro.
2007- National Art Centre Orchestra, Ottawa
2007-Min Lee tour. Singapore. (5 shows)
2006-Toured with Stuart Mclean and the Vinyl Café. Across Canada 26 shows.
Exhibitions
1991-Present. I have participated in numerous group and solo shows across Canada
2024 “Which Craft” Harvest Gallery, Wolfville, NS.
2024 Group show New Works, Art Lab, Parrsboro. NS.
2023 “Illuminating Nature” Art Lab Parrsboro. NS.
2022 “Light in the Forest” Exhibit, Secord Gallery.
2020 “Light in the Forest” Installation, Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History, Halifax, NS.
2019 “New Works” Secord Gallery, Halifax, NS.
2017 “New Works” Harvest Gallery, Wolfville, NS.
2015 “I can’t Sleep when I am Dreaming” Secord Gallery, Halifax NS.
2015 “Garden Path” Ross Creek Centre for the Arts, Canning, NS.
2014 “Light in the Forest” Acadia University Art Gallery, Wolfville NS.
2012 “Nature of Seasons” Harvest Gallery, Wolfville, NS.
2010 “Symphony on Silk” Argyle Gallery, Halifax.
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 “Half Cracked” a Neptune/Eastern Front collaboration. Her most ambitious installation to date is a larger-than-life environment created out of painted silk, “Light in the Forest” for Acadia University Art Gallery which has been redesigned as a mental wellness, multimedia production that she is currently touring all regions of Nova Scotia. Light in the Forest is also an award-winning children’s book and an App. Holly has partnered with the NS ministry of Mental Health and Addictions to create a permanent Light in the Forest Exhibit that opened at the NS Museum of Natural History, Fall, 2024.
Holly has also partnered with the Canadian Mental Health Association (NS Div) creating” The Comfort Tree” a story trails project for the Portapique Community. The project was published as a children’s book in 2024.
In 2003 Holly branched out into performance art, where she paints large works live on stage. 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 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 and most recently the Toledo Symphony in Ohio. Holly has traveled internationally with her work, exhibiting, teaching and performing in Peru, Hong Kong and Singapore. Holly graduated from Nova Scotia College of Art and Design with a BFA and B.A.Ed. Holly’s work can be found in numerous private and public collections. To learn more about Holly’s work visit, www.hollycarr.com and www.lightintheforest.ca
Education: Nova Scotia College of Art and Design University. 1983-1988 B.F.A, B.A.Ed.
1991-1992 Masters Art Education Program- Assistant to Professor.
Public School Art Teacher Full time/Substituting/Teachers Inservice’s, 1989-1999.
Designer: Selected Design Projects
2024 “The Comfort Tree” Story Trail Installation, Portapique, Nova Scotia
2024 “The Comfort Tree” Children’s Book. Writer Illustrator, Plumleaf Press. Ontario.
2024 “Light in the Forest” Permanent touring exhibit. Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History.
2024-Present 55 ft. Mural for Pictou Cultural Hub.
2024 Art installation for Red Spruce Counseling Acadia University.
2024 HRM “Ride With Me” Community Street mural project.
2020-2023 Sets, Costumes, Animation for “Light in the Forest”.
2020 “Light in the Forest” Children’s book. Writer/Illustrator Rubicon Publishing, Ontario.
2018 “Half Cracked” Designed silk panel sets for the joint production of Eastern Front and Neptune Theatre.
2016 “The Big Build” Designed artwork for the largest Lego mural in Canada Discovery Centre, Halifax.
2015 Three-Tiered Silk Installation. Hong Kong, Canadian International School.
2014 Painted 50 yds. of silk for Mermaid Theatre “Stella Queen of the Snow” Sets.
2014 Illustrations for “Note Kids” Piano education books.
2013 Port of Wines, Halifax. Created 50 ft. banner for feature country Italy.
2013 Art work for Pete’s Frootique Wine Truck.
2012 Confrerie des chevaliers du tastevin, Burgandy Wine Conference Halifax.
Designed art work to brand the event. Promotional Material, Menus, Wine Label.
2012 Port of Wine Festival, Halifax. Designed and built thirty, 12ft. illuminated silk pillars and a 50ft. backdrop for the event.
2011 Opening of Dalhousie Science Centre. Designed and built two 50ft. banners depicting the human body from synapses to the entire body.
2011 Port of Wine Festival, Halifax. Designed, and created a 50ft. banner for the feature country Australia.
2010 ICE Awards (Creative Advertising Award) Designed installation for stage backdrop. 45x10ft.
2010 Cadance production of “The Nutcracker” Atlantic Theatre Festival. Designed and painted 40x15ft. back drop of “Candy Land”
2009 Port of Wines Festival, Halifax. Designed 50ft. backdrop and entry way for event.
1999 – 2009 Designed two shows for Mermaid Theatre including sets costumes and puppets and created hand painted silk yardage for the productions. “When Dinosaurs Dine by Moonlight” written by Sheree Fitch. “The Little Lame Prince” Dinah Maria Mulock Craik. I have also designed fabric for a number of other Mermaid productions.
Performance
2002 – Present. I have developed a performance art technique where I paint live on large silk screens to music and spoken word. I have also mounted a number of my own productions where I combine monologue and live painting. I do approximately 20 shows a year nationally.
Selected Performances
2024 Light in the Forest, Halifax, Multi Media /Theatre production. Kentville, NS.
2024 Live Painting for Lung PEI Event, Halifax.
2024 Live painting with Stadacona Band. Spatz Theatre Halifax.
2023 Canadian Dental Conference. Winnipeg.
2021-2023 “Light in the Forest” Live painting, Halifax, Wolfville, Bridgewater.
2020 Light in the Forest, Stage film.
2019 Light in the Forest, Halifax, Multi Media /Theatre production. (Created, produced and performed.)
2019 Toledo Symphony, Ohio. Live Painting.
2018 National Art Centre Orchestra, Vivaldi Four Seasons, Ottawa. Live Painting.
2017 “The Women I am and the Stories We Tell” Live Art, Halifax NS.
2016 North Bay Symphony “Inspirations” North Bay Ontario. Live Painting
2009-2017 “Robert Pilon and Friends” 12 shows across Canada, most recently in NFLD. Live Painting
2015 “Nocturnes on Silk” Nocturne Halifax, NS, Live Painting
2015 Hong Kong Canadian International School. Hong Kong. Live Painting.
2014 Mocean Dance Collaboration. Live performance painting. Halifax, NS
2013 Ice Castle, Yellowknife, NWT
2013 Laval Symphony, A series of performances for family shows. Laval, Quebec.
2012 Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra and TorQ at Roy Thompson Hall, Toronto
2012 Halifax Waterfront Development Ocean Day Celebration with Scott McMillan’s Celtic Mass for the Sea with Symphony Nova Scotia.
2010-2013 Boris Brott and the Hamilton Symphony Orchestra. 6 shows.
2010- Symphony Nova Scotia “Holly’s Magic Brush” (30ft live painting)
2010-“Women Only” My own production at Pier 21 Halifax.
2010-Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Manitoba.
2009- “One Enchanted Evening” My own production at Marigold Theatre, Truro.
2007- National Art Centre Orchestra, Ottawa
2007-Min Lee tour. Singapore. (5 shows)
2006-Toured with Stuart Mclean and the Vinyl Café. Across Canada 26 shows.
Exhibitions
1991-Present. I have participated in numerous group and solo shows across Canada
2024 “Which Craft” Harvest Gallery, Wolfville, NS.
2024 Group show New Works, Art Lab, Parrsboro. NS.
2023 “Illuminating Nature” Art Lab Parrsboro. NS.
2022 “Light in the Forest” Exhibit, Secord Gallery.
2020 “Light in the Forest” Installation, Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History, Halifax, NS.
2019 “New Works” Secord Gallery, Halifax, NS.
2017 “New Works” Harvest Gallery, Wolfville, NS.
2015 “I can’t Sleep when I am Dreaming” Secord Gallery, Halifax NS.
2015 “Garden Path” Ross Creek Centre for the Arts, Canning, NS.
2014 “Light in the Forest” Acadia University Art Gallery, Wolfville NS.
2012 “Nature of Seasons” Harvest Gallery, Wolfville, NS.
2010 “Symphony on Silk” Argyle Gallery, Halifax.