Multitalented Fort Bragg native, Mary Theresa Anderson holds an MFA and BA from the State University of New York at Albany, in sculptural studies.  She also studied at Parson School of Design the new School and the Art Students league in New York City, where she refined her figure drawing skills. “I drew the figure every day, for three months every summer  during graduate school. I learned to see – the muscles, bones and how the figure moved.”

Mary returned to the West Coast and taught San Francisco secondary students metal and glass for 26 years.  After retiring from teaching she moved home, built her studio and currently works and lives there today.

Among her passions are the human figure and birds of prey.  “I have always drawn the figure – if I sometimes get lost I always return to the figure.  I have done printmaking from undergraduate days where I fell in love with hand printing with a press.  I worked on both zinc and copper plates and after learning engraving I began shapes of figures, flowers and birds.”

” I am very grateful to Birds of Prey, whom I’ve renamed Birds of Pray in my series, because they are so important to our survival. A bear killed a small deer next to my garage and made a huge mess, eating only the inner organs.  I dragged the carcass to my field.  In three days vultures and ravins cleaned it, leaving only the skeleton.  We need to thank these birds – stop using pesticides and protect our wildlife.  I see their beauty, their large wingspan, their unusual faces, their soaring power.  After a rain one large vulture perched upon a stone sculpture outside my window, drying one wing at a time.  It was magnificent.  Since the bear incident and watching the vulture close up, I have been focusing on and honoring Birds of Prey (Pray) in drawing, printmaking and sculpture.”

Mary’s Featured Exhibition can be viewed through June 5th.  The gallery is open every day from 11am to 4pm.  Join us for extended hours on Second Saturday, May 13th from 4 to 7pm to meet the artist.  We are located on Kasten at Albion Streets in Mendocino and online at artcoopmendocino.com. (707) 937-2217