In an artist statement from 2011, Rick talks about how "The image of the bear made herself known to me years ago but recently appeared in the tall book end maple planks, begging to be reawakened once more as a symbol for protective motherhood and as a symbol of medicine and ancient doctoring." In this piece from 1986 Rick depicts the bear transforming to a mask and the mask to man. "...in 1979, (...) I began drawing figures with masks either being removed or falling off the face. These images, I find, coincide with my having stopped drinking, obviously a cathartic period in my life." "Transitions are a part of my life that I now actively seek, seeing transition as growth. I welcome change now; before, I was afraid of it."