Local Girl Honors Sister’s Memory with Art Show

When Hannah Carr was just 11 years old, she lost her sister, Elizabeth, to a brain tumor.

Ten years later, 21-year-old Carr and the Elizabeth Carr Memorial Fund (ECMF) have organized Art from the Heart, a silent art auction to honor Elizabeth’s memory.

“I wanted a creative way to celebrate her life,” Carr said. “She was really into art. She was always sketching, always had a drawing pad—we have a lot of really great pictures she painted and drew herself.”

Carr took Elizabeth’s passion for art and turned it into a fundraiser.

Art from the Heart will feature artwork created by children treated at John’s Hopkins and all proceeds from the show will benefit the John’s Hopkins Children Center Child Life Department.

“Having an art auction that actually involved the children at John’s Hopkins as well was win-win for us,” Carr said. “We are raising money for them and involving them as well.”

Elizabeth was diagnosed with a brain tumor when she was 3. Carr said she received treatment at John’s Hopkins and was cancer-free for 10 years. However, the cancer came back when Elizabeth was 13 and she passed away.

Since her passing, the Carr family has organized other fundraisers for Elizabeth, like a dog walk at Kinder Farm Park. However, the art show has a distinctive meaning to Carr.

“I think the fact that she loved art makes this so special,” Carr said. “She has such a passion for artwork so I wanted to frame the whole thing around our memories of her and how our community remembered her. She also loved, loved children.”

All of the supplies that the children used to create the artwork were donated. In fact, thanks to the overwhelming support and generous donations, the ECMF has extended its outreach beyond the John's Hopkins Children’s Center to other local patients who have been or are being treated for a childhood illness.

All proceeds from the art auction will benefit the Child Life Department, which provides patients and families with effective coping skills. Hopkins will specifically be using the money raised at Art From the Heart to create a vibrant and child-friendly environment in the waiting, infusion and procedure rooms.

“The whole thing is just a good fit,” Carr said. “[Elizabeth] loved art and kids. She was always babysitting and she was such a great older sister. I think it is neat this is benefiting the children’s center. They are just kids and they need our help.”

The first annual Art from the Heart silent auction will be held from 2-5 p.m. on Feb. 10 at the Severna Park Community Center.