Mandy Tootell: Territory Blue Exhibition Catalog

TERRITORY
BLUE
An Exhibition of
New Works by
Mandy Tootell
Godinymayin Yijard Rivers Arts & Culture Centre
30 January to 17 March 2023

About
Mandy Tootell and
Territory Blue
Although primarily a printmaker, Mandy
Tootell combines a love of floral fabrics,
stitching, painting and printmaking
together with a fascination for local
Northern Territory birdlife. To open our
2023 gallery programming, Godinymayin
is pleased to present Territory Blue!
A celebration of the forms,
colours, and presence of
birdlife in the Big Rivers
Region and beyond.
Like many of us, Tootell sees our avian
friends as a magical aspect of life in our
region. Their traits and images have been
informing the artist’s work more and
more—especially since her time as Artist
in Residence at the Territory Wildlife Park
in 2019. More recently Tootell returned to
her role as a high school art teacher—
where she enjoys sharing experimental
printmaking processes with her students.
Territory Blue showcases new work using
processes developed over a number of
years—and the result is magic in itself—
just take a look at the over 50 pictures
and bird images that fill the Godinymayin
gallery. Her free motion stitched birds,
featured throughout Territory Blue, show
movement in their flight feathers—
contrasting with the flowing stitchery
and often bold backdrops. Combining
decorative and expressive elements, each
bird in this exhibition stands out in a
unique and realist way—like friends
visiting us at the Centre and taking flight
around us.

Bush Stone-Curlew, Cyanotype and
hand coloured Collagraph print on paper.

“Over the past few months, my backyard
has been visited by a wealth of Territory
birdlife,” says Godinymayin Chief
Executive Eric Holowacz.
“I’ve had a family of barking owls, small
flocks of sulphur-crested cockatoos, pairs
of dollar birds flittering around, and
charming smaller birds. All of these, and
more, can be found in Mandy Tootell’s
exhibition. Her most recent art provides
us with a comprehensive and combined
look at these colourful wonders—these
magical creatures within our
environment.”
Printmaking has long been a favourite art
making process of the artist, and this
exhibition returns to that medium by
exploring cyanotype, collage,
monoprinting and dry point etching (and
various combinations of these). With
Territory Blue, the birds that surround us
in the real world are explored through
these media—given a creative twist with
the image of each bird front and centre.
“Beyond the standard depiction of each
species, each of Tootell’s subjects takes
on its own personality,” says Holowacz.
“Some look mischievous, others are
curious, and some seem fierce. A few even
remind me of some humans I know.”
Tootell hopes that visitors to this
Godinymayin will find a similar familiarity
and wonder in this exhibition—expanding
their appreciation of the abundance of
amazing birdlife in the Top End and
beyond. As they soar around our gallery
with Territory Blue.
Top Left: Northern Rosellas,
Middle Left: Rufous backed Kingfisher,
Bottom Left: Red collared Lorikeet, Ink,
Lino print & Gouache on paper

Northern Rosella, Cyanotype and hand
coloured Collagraph print on paper.

A CONTEMPORARY
EXPLORATION OF
TOP END BIRD LIFE
An interview with artist
Mandy Tootell
Katherine artist Mandy Tootell is a
creative force, and (obvious from the
subjects in this exhibition) a champion of
our local birdlife. She is also a highly
skilled print-maker, textile artist, and
visual communicator (also evident in each
of the wonderful works in Territory Blue).
Godinymayin Gallery Coordinator Max
Paez sat down with the artist for a
conversation about her inspiration,
method, and creative life…
Q: Tell us a little bit about the work in
Territory Blue, and the diverse bird life
represented.
A: In 2019 I was an Artist in Residence for
the Territory Wildlife Park and in 2020
went on the Kakadu Bird Week tours with
NT Bird Specialists. My attention to the
birdlife around me has grown from that.
All of the birds in Territory Blue can be
found around us here in Katherine except
for a few (such as the Banded Fruit Dove,
which is endemic to a little part of
Kakadu, and the Pygmy Geese live up
there too). We are so lucky to live in a
region that has an abundance of amazing
wildlife, and birds even visit us in our own
backyard!
Q: You combine painting, printmaking,
drawing, textile, and a lot of visual
elements to make these mixed-media
works. Tell about your creative process,
and how this exhibition was made.
A: There are 5 series in the Territory Blue
body of work; as a printmaker and mixed
media artist, I find myself doing repeated
experiments over a period of time, before
making a series of work. Some of these
processes have been combined to
produce the results seen in the exhibition.
Although I was trained in—and have a love
of—etching, I have avoided acid for a
while, and kept to dry points and
collagraphs intaglio.
Gouldian Finch, Cyanotype
and hand coloured Collagraph
print on paper.

Hooded Parrots, Fabric stitched
to ink on paper

Some of these works required an etching
press, which both Katherine High and
Katherine Regional Arts have. And it’s my
favourite piece of equipment!
Q: For you as a creative person, who are
three influential artists or thinkers?
A: Rebecca Cool is a WA artist who uses
fabric in her paintings and lots of colour! I
love her whimsy and ability to paint on
anything. One day I would love to visit her
open studio in the Margaret River region.
Jenny McCabe is an English artist who is
the master of collagraphs! Thanks to the
wonders of Instagram, I was able to
contact her and use her technique. Our
collagraphs use recycled tetrapaks, and
the possibilities are endless. There are so,
so many other artists I admire—including
my children!
Q: What are you planning for 2023 that
nobody knows about yet?
A: I've been planning an exhibition at ABC
Brunette Races on Brunette Downs for
the past couple of years, and hoping that
this is the year we might actually be able
to pull it off!
It will be an art exhibition in the middle of
bum truck nowhere! And the subject
matter will be a little different than
Territory Blue—horses and cattle!
Q: If you went away from the the Big
Rivers Region for a long time and then
came back, what are the first three
things you would do or visit?
A: Katherine hot springs (with brunch
from the Pop Rocket), Bitter Springs at
Mataranka, and Pawpaw salad from the
Katherine markets on Saturday morning!
Q: In one sentence, can you define art?
A: It’s called an Arts Practice because art
is not just about looking. It’s about the
doing, the creating, the process, the
experimenting and the learning.
"Mandy’s work offers insight into
the illusive lives of these birds;
their companionship, their flight
and their cheekiness"
Left: Radjah Shelduck. Centre: Red Collared Lorikeet. Right: Little Corella.
Acrylic paint on stretched fabric

Black banded Fruit Dove, Fabric
stitched to ink on paper.

Q: What word of advice would you offer
an aspiring creative person in the
Territory?
A: Practice! No one knows everything, and
we all learn from each other,. So find out
more. Also (just between you and me):
Printmaking is awesome!
Q: What is your dream of happiness?
A: I'd have to ponder that question a little
more. I am happy when I'm with my
children enjoying themselves!
Q: One final question, back to the birds
—do you have a favourite species,
feature, or magical characteristic that
stands out from all your avian subjects?
A: All birds are magic. Their size and noise
and colour and flight (or non-flight, emu!).
I don't have any particular favourites, and
I do feel like I've left out so many from this
exhibition. But that is because there are
so many! The Rose Crowned Fruit Doves
are spectacular, and the Pygmy Geese
are delightful. I get excited when I see
Northern Rosellas in my backyard and
love that the Blue Winged Kookaburras
say good night and good morning. The
Red Collared Lorikeets are cheeky and
loud and colourful, and Kingfishers are a
magical blue.
"All birds are magic. Thier
size and noise and colour,
flight or non-flight."
Top Right: Sulphur Crested Cockatoo
Middle Right: Galah
Bottom Right: Barking Owl, Ink, Lino print
& Gouache on paper

Some examples of Mandy Tootell's dry
point etching and monoprint on paper.

Selected Exhibition History – Artist Mandy Tootell
2021 – Avians at Audit solo exhibition, National Trust Audit House, Darwin
2020 – Peck & Snap solo exhibition, Godinymayin Yijard Rivers Arts and Culture Centre
2019 – Artist in Residence, Territory Wildlife Park NT
On the Wing solo exhibition, The Finch Café, Katherine
Flood Mural, Katherine Town Council Katherine Terrace
2018 – Junk Festival group exhibition, KRA Katherine
Katherine Prize group exhibition. GYRACC Katherine
2017 – Hard Pressed group exhibition, steamrolled woodcuts. Geraldton Arts WA
Katherine Prize group exhibition. GYRACC Katherine
2016 – Flight Risk Mandy Tootell & Helen Aland, K-Space Godinymayin, Katherine
Women of the World foyer, GYRACC Katherine
Hard Pressed group exhibition, steamrolled woodcuts. Geraldton Arts WA
Katherine Prize group exhibition. GYRACC Katherine
2015 – Twee Little Birds solo exhibition, The Finch Café, Katherine
2014 – Botanica group exhibition, Godinymayin Yijard Rivers Arts and Culture Centre
Botanica II group exhibition, Chan Building, Darwin
Imprinted on Country KRA group exhibition, GYRACC Katherine
2013 – Loose Group group exhibition, O’Keefe House Katherine NT
2011 – International Women’s Day Tea Towels, group exhibition, Katherine Town Council
2010 – Senior Territorian Art Award group exhibition, Parliament House Darwin
Student work selected for Silk Cut Art Award
2009 – Student work selected for Silk Cut Art Award
2007 – Negotiating the Grid Mandy Edge & Michelle Hall, A Little White Space Townsville
2002 – Compact Prints group exhibition, Umbrella Contemporary Arts Townsville
2001 – Toys group exhibition, Perc Tucker Regional Gallery Townsville
Printmaking Award, James Cook University
1999 – Cyclitrix solo exhibition, Blue Bottle Café Townsville
1997 – Mother Cow curated group exhibition, Umbrella Contemporary Arts Townsville

Rainbow Bee Eater, Cyanotype and hand coloured
Collagraph print on paper.

Godinymayin Yijard Rivers
Arts and Culture Centre
info@gyracc.org.au
PO Box 613, Katherine, NT
0850
Godinymayin Yijard Rivers Arts and
Culture Centre was established in 2012 as
the flagship cultural facility for the
Katherine Region, and recently marked
our 10th anniversary as the region’s
gathering place. Our founders were a
visionary group of local artists, elders, civic
leaders, business owners, pastoralists,
educators, and government partners who
wanted to make a special place for the
community. And they did.
Over the past decade, Godinymayin has
become a community hub that now
presents theatre, music, cabaret,
exhibitions, lectures, comedy, cinema, and
civic events—and is also home to
workshops, conferences, corporate
functions, and hired activities of every
kind.
Our facilities comprise a welcoming lobby,
the Lambert Gallery for visual arts
programming, the K Space Gallery, the
Laneway Gallery, a cafe and retail shop,
and a large multi-function performing arts
venue and meeting space.
This year an expanded Godinymayin will
begin to appear. Thanks to a Northern
Territory Government Arts Trail
investment, we are developing expanded
indoor cultural facilities and a brand new
outdoor amphitheatre and covered deck
cafe area for the region's residents and
visitors to enjoy.
Our non-profit organisation is governed
by a board of 12 community leaders—
including representatives from the
Jawoyn, Wardaman and Dagoman people.
We are managed throughout the year by
a small team of dedicated arts
professionals who are passionate about
the the community, cultural identity, and
creative opportunities and celebrations.
We work hard to perpetuate and grow our
founding vision, and ensuring a special
place in Katherine where creativity,
culture, and heritage will always come
together and thrive. We at Godinymayin
are also grateful for the ongoing
partnership and exchanges with the
region’s arts centres, and to our principal
partners the Northern Territory
Government and Katherine Town Council.
In everything, we do, our organisation
acknowledges the Traditional Owners of
the land and region we inhabit—the
Jawoyn, Wardaman and Dagoman people
—and their Elders past, present, and
emerging.
Special Thanks to Godinymayin team for
their dedication and hard work during the
Wet Season: Trish Aspey, Max Paez, Jessy
Moss, Cindy Orcher, Richard Starr, Jacob
Sadler, Alyssa Mitchell, Janet Schultz, Lalu
Ladik, and Eric Holowacz
With your help and participation, our new
performance venue will bring great
cultural events and dry season
programming—and make a more dynamic
Katherine Region.
.

Territory Blue, on display in the
Lambert Gallery

TERRITORY
BLUE
An Exhibition of
New Works by
Mandy Tootell
Godinymayin Yijard Rivers Arts & Culture Centre
30 January to 17 March 2023
Made possible by our generous sponsors