Help Mary Fulfill Her Dream
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Help Mary Fulfill Her Dream
I’ve set up this GoFundMe in support of my younger sister, Mary Duncan. Her desire, since she was ten years old, has been to live and work in NYC.
Two years ago, she set everything aside, deciding once and for all to go for her dreams. Her desire to attend art school in NYC became a reality when she applied for and was accepted into Pratt Institute Manhattan! She quit her full-time job, packed her bags, and moved into the dorms (yes…at 52 years old) on the Brooklyn campus of Pratt! It wasn’t easy. Going to school with young adults who were younger than her nieces and nephews was a challenge. The generation gap was REAL!!
After her first semester (and “acing” her art classes), Mary requested a room change, hoping to gain a more “mature” roommate, one who would possibly turn the lights out by midnight! LOL! She moved down the hall and into a new dorm room with a spectacular view of the Williamsburg Bridge. Life was FINALLY working out!
And then…COVID-19!!!!!!
We’ve all been affected in some way: losing family members and friends (without being able to say a loving goodbye); Broadway completely shutting down with no advanced notice; jobs being lost without warning; voided contracts; having to move from a home of over 30 years because the rent/mortgage was no longer affordable; businesses closing their doors for the last time…the list goes on and on. I never imagined I’d see ANYTHING like this in my lifetime!
Due to the Brooklyn campus of Pratt closing down in mid-March of 2020, Mary was forced to move back to Springfield, MA and live with her mother (don’t get me wrong…it was a blessing to have Mary there with our Mom to help care for her during this crisis)! Having had a taste of her dream made this an extremely difficult move, but there was really no other choice! While it was the SAFEST decision to make, it was nonetheless, challenging. During this time (while finishing up her second semester), with the aid of her instructors, Mary created her most beautiful works of art to date (please see attachments).
To watch my “bestest little sister” get this close to fulfilling her dreams and then have them snatched away was heartbreaking, for both her and me. I know the emotional stress she has endured over the years and I can honestly say that “art” has SAVED her! To watch her light shine through all that has gone on inspires ME to do more! To see the reactions and read/hear the comments after people view her work confirms what I’ve known for quite some time; there is brilliance inside of my sister and I want to give it EVERY opportunity to burst forth!
Amid all that’s going on, Mary has been able to find a glimmer of hope and expression, sparking some new creativity with oil pastels. She was determined (through tears) that in 2021, she was moving back to NYC “ in order to gain back her mojo and sell her art.”
She’s come up with a simple business plan and has begun to implement it:
* Setting up her first portfolio website at: mduncanart.com
* Posting her art on Instagram (the response has been AMAZING)!
* Constructing a business plan, estimating the funds needed to secure an apartment (and expenses) in NYC for one year
* Creating proposals to approach art galleries for representation
I’m asking for your help because I know if we ALL give a little (or a lot), my sister will continue to THRIVE in this next chapter of her life! I’ve watched her get knocked down time after time, and STILL manage to GET BACK UP AGAIN! I’ve watch her go THROUGH emotionally painful situations and STILL find the STRENGTH TO PERSEVERE!
Mary still plans to attend Pratt Institute to continue honing her artistic skills when it re-opens for in-person studies. In the meantime, can you help me, help Mary? She mentioned to me late last year, that “NYC is on the verge of a Renaissance and I want to be a part of it!” We all know how important it is to have a dream; it’s what gives purpose to each waking moment!
I want to thank you in advance for your support in helping my sister Mary get back to the place that inspired her 43 years ago! I can’t WAIT to see what type of art she will create over the next 43 years!
Please feel free to share this GoFundMe page on your own personal pages; both Mary and I sincerely appreciate it! This is her time to SHINE and your help will help her light shine even brighter!!
I’ve set up this GoFundMe in support of my younger sister, Mary Duncan. Her desire, since she was ten years old, has been to live and work in NYC.
Two years ago, she set everything aside, deciding once and for all to go for her dreams. Her desire to attend art school in NYC became a reality when she applied for and was accepted into Pratt Institute Manhattan! She quit her full-time job, packed her bags, and moved into the dorms (yes…at 52 years old) on the Brooklyn campus of Pratt! It wasn’t easy. Going to school with young adults who were younger than her nieces and nephews was a challenge. The generation gap was REAL!!
After her first semester (and “acing” her art classes), Mary requested a room change, hoping to gain a more “mature” roommate, one who would possibly turn the lights out by midnight! LOL! She moved down the hall and into a new dorm room with a spectacular view of the Williamsburg Bridge. Life was FINALLY working out!
And then…COVID-19!!!!!!
We’ve all been affected in some way: losing family members and friends (without being able to say a loving goodbye); Broadway completely shutting down with no advanced notice; jobs being lost without warning; voided contracts; having to move from a home of over 30 years because the rent/mortgage was no longer affordable; businesses closing their doors for the last time…the list goes on and on. I never imagined I’d see ANYTHING like this in my lifetime!
Due to the Brooklyn campus of Pratt closing down in mid-March of 2020, Mary was forced to move back to Springfield, MA and live with her mother (don’t get me wrong…it was a blessing to have Mary there with our Mom to help care for her during this crisis)! Having had a taste of her dream made this an extremely difficult move, but there was really no other choice! While it was the SAFEST decision to make, it was nonetheless, challenging. During this time (while finishing up her second semester), with the aid of her instructors, Mary created her most beautiful works of art to date (please see attachments).
To watch my “bestest little sister” get this close to fulfilling her dreams and then have them snatched away was heartbreaking, for both her and me. I know the emotional stress she has endured over the years and I can honestly say that “art” has SAVED her! To watch her light shine through all that has gone on inspires ME to do more! To see the reactions and read/hear the comments after people view her work confirms what I’ve known for quite some time; there is brilliance inside of my sister and I want to give it EVERY opportunity to burst forth!
Amid all that’s going on, Mary has been able to find a glimmer of hope and expression, sparking some new creativity with oil pastels. She was determined (through tears) that in 2021, she was moving back to NYC “ in order to gain back her mojo and sell her art.”
She’s come up with a simple business plan and has begun to implement it:
* Setting up her first portfolio website at: mduncanart.com
* Posting her art on Instagram (the response has been AMAZING)!
* Constructing a business plan, estimating the funds needed to secure an apartment (and expenses) in NYC for one year
* Creating proposals to approach art galleries for representation
I’m asking for your help because I know if we ALL give a little (or a lot), my sister will continue to THRIVE in this next chapter of her life! I’ve watched her get knocked down time after time, and STILL manage to GET BACK UP AGAIN! I’ve watch her go THROUGH emotionally painful situations and STILL find the STRENGTH TO PERSEVERE!
Mary still plans to attend Pratt Institute to continue honing her artistic skills when it re-opens for in-person studies. In the meantime, can you help me, help Mary? She mentioned to me late last year, that “NYC is on the verge of a Renaissance and I want to be a part of it!” We all know how important it is to have a dream; it’s what gives purpose to each waking moment!
I want to thank you in advance for your support in helping my sister Mary get back to the place that inspired her 43 years ago! I can’t WAIT to see what type of art she will create over the next 43 years!
Please feel free to share this GoFundMe page on your own personal pages; both Mary and I sincerely appreciate it! This is her time to SHINE and your help will help her light shine even brighter!!
Organizer and beneficiary
Mamie Duncan-Gibbs
Organizer
Yonkers, NY
Mary Duncan
Beneficiary