Dr Mahalski (74), a former lecturer in the University of Otago psychology department, yesterday handed over her son's art work , his gift to her, to the national centre of peace and conflict studies.
Dr Mahalski, who described herself as active in the peace movement for most of her adult life, said the work had been sitting in her house in a place where few people would see it.
In its new home near the entrance to the centre in Albany St, Dunedin, it is hard to miss.
The work contains a series of phrases where the initial letters of the words spell war.
Although the work was only revealed on her birthday, Dr Mahalski knew its theme in advance and contributed some of the phrases including " We're all responsible".
When it was presented to centre head Prof Kevin Clements yesterday he chose the expression "Wrack and ruin" as his favourite on the work.
Dr Mahalski said her son was also "quite a peacenik".
In his earlier life, Mr Mahalski, a University of Otago psychology graduate, was in the bands Chrystal Zoom and later Let's Get Naked.
In the 1990s, he became known for clothing produced for the Forest and Bird Society's mail order catalogue.
He later became allergic to some of the screen printing inks and is now concentrating more on commercial and contemporary art.
His work has included illustrations for books and websites and some cartoons.
He has written four children's books, on history and natural history.
He teaches at Williams School of Art at Inverlochy, Wellington, and regularly exhibits contemporary works in the capital.
