Mary Mattingly has a very varied career: https://marymattingly.com/blogs/portfolio
Consequently, when we worked together, one of the hardest parts of her grant application was creating a clear narrative that explains the thread of
her work.
This clear narrative is important because it helps the jury to get to know you on a personal level and that brings them closer to your work.
Here is what Mary Mattingly said about needing help for getting this grant done right and how much she was thrilled at winning -
“In recent years, I discovered that while I was passionately writing letters of recommendation for my esteemed
colleagues, I unintentionally put my own application pursuits on the back burner. The challenge of finding dedicated time amidst a busy schedule made the prospect of pursuing my own applications seem out of reach. However, building momentum around a big project and receiving an email from Brainard Carey at an opportune moment, I reached out.
Collaborating with Brainard proved to be a game-changer as he not only assisted me with meticulous editing but also
skillfully identified areas requiring further refinement and clarification. Whenever I had questions or uncertainties, he provided guidance, ranging from helping to select the most impactful images, to ensuring clarity in my written materials. Brainard's gentle reminders about application deadlines were the nudges I needed to stay on task.
As for the aftermath of winning the Guggenheim Fellowship, I can attest to the transformative effect it has had on both my
professional and personal life. With the Fellowship as a springboard, I have embarked on an ambitious project, forged new collaborations, and pushed the boundaries of my practice.
www.marymattingly.com
https://linktr.ee/marymattingly ”
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Her email to me right after winning -
“Hi Brainard,
Wow, first, it is with so much gratitude that I'm emailing you, and I'm still reeling from the knowledge that I did receive the fellowship! It's been beyond exciting to learn that the application was a success, and it kicked me into gear with the
next steps for this project - I hit the ground running and made some big life changes simultaneously - thank you very much for your guidance!”
She also wrote this in her newsletter -
“Finally in big news, I am thrilled and honored to announce that I received a Guggenheim Fellowship this year. The fellowship will assist a contemplative floating installation that will serve as a more permanent and accessible food forest. I am
beyond grateful for the opportunity to continue building this throughout the year, alongside a talented group of individuals who constantly inspire me. I cannot wait to see what the future holds for this project.
Thank you for your support, and I hope you remain well!
Yours,
Mary”
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If you want me to work with you one on one to help you with the grant and look closely at your art and your history to
select the best images, as I did for clients such as Mary Mattingly and Vicky Sambunaris, please reply to this email as soon as possible and ask me about it and I will tell you the fee structure.
I work with a total of 10 artists on this on a first come first served basis and then it is closed.
Reply to this letter to ask any questions and also to find out the fee structure of hiring me. I work with you step by step for every element
of this grant including image selection and looking closely at your art.
Sincerely,
Brainard Carey