Pelvis (57" x 47", acrylic on canvas) - Done in the early 1970s, this painting shows the beginning of Mary's transition from animal paintings to a more vision-centered approach.  Inspired by the sight of animal carcasses in Africa, Mary produced this deeply symbolic portrayal of birth and death. 

"When we were there, when we were just driving along, sort of off the road, we'd come across these skeletons and what-not, and there was a whole big giraffe skeleton.  And I had looked at it, and there I saw these beautiful butterflies alighting on the bones.  That was the beginning of that one. 

"It's the whole idea of birth and death - of course the pelvic bones symbolizing birth.  I have a human pelvis, a prehistoric pelvis, and a giraffe pelvis, that's a trio.  And then, then it's all rather scary, because I had to break open the background.  The background was sort of very brilliant orange, and then I realized I had to make shadows and things.  I had to come up, around, and see the whole thing down from inside."