About

Chair of the committee, Angela McCarthy is an Adjunct Senior Lecturer at the University of Notre Dame Australia. Following a long teaching career she is now dedicated to her research students in art and theology, and numerous writing projects.

“Beauty and art throughout history have been intrinsic to the belief and worship of Christians and much has been written about this connection. Artists open up ancient wisdom from scripture in a way that challenges the way we think and act. Beauty in the Christian understanding brings us to focus on goodness and the best of human values. The Mandorla Art Award gifts the community with the results of artists’ contemplation of these deep, rich ideas.”

Mary Casotti is an educator, artist and photographer whose passion for the arts spans many decades. Its genesis saw the arts and religion inextricably link with her vocation and mission for the spiritual and creative education of youth. A love of travel together with a passion  for art history ignited a lifelong fascination for religious art.

“Religion and art are closely connected, both products of the creative, the inspired, or the revealed imagination providing a contemporary snapshot for society. As a long time Art and Religious Education Educator and avid follower of the Mandorla Art Award, I am excited to be working with the committee leading into the 2022 award.”

Dr Tania Watson is Executive Minister at Riverview Church.  She is an experienced executive leader in churches, organisations and boards.  Tania is an active advocate for the arts and artists.

“The Christian Church has a responsibility to nurture, welcome and celebrate the gifts of imagination, creativity and making.  Art has an essential, and an uneasy relationship, with Christian theology and practice, yet it is this very tension that leads us into deeper “wondering” about the nature of God and humanity.”

Rebecca Hepworth is a Perth-based visual artist with a Bachelor of Contemporary Arts from Edith Cowan University. She works primarily in soft pastel, watercolour, and oil paint, creating expressive and symbolic artworks that explore faith, human emotion, and the unseen spiritual world. As a prophetic artist, she regularly paints live during worship at her church, using art as a form of prayer and encouragement. Her creative practice is deeply rooted in her Christian faith and shaped by scripture, reflection, and personal encounters with God.Alongside her studio practice, she teaches primary school students and is passionate about helping students explore their own creativity and learning habits.

“It’s an honour to serve on the Mandorla Art Award committee. This award holds a unique and vital place in the Australian art landscape, inviting artists to explore sacred themes with depth and imagination. I believe art and faith together have the power to awaken hearts, provoke thought, and reveal the beauty of God in ways that words cannot.”

Rhys Machell is a musician and minister with over 20 years of experience as a music producer, session and touring musician, and MD. Rhys has worked on countless albums and projects with a variety of artists across different genres and countries, as well as high-profile tv shows (X Factor NZ and Dancing With The Stars NZ). In addition to his music career, Rhys is an associate minister at Riverview Church in Perth, WA. 

“My faith inspires me to make spaces for unique perspectives and worship expressions within my church community.”

Laura Bezant is a BFA graduate from Curtin University who went on to complete her graduate diploma in Education at Edith Cowan University.  She considers it to be an absolute blessing to combine her passion of the Arts and love of education in her role as primary Arts specialist teacher. Laura is also passionate in educating the next generation of teachers and thoroughly enjoys helping them in understanding their creative abilities at ECU where she lectures in Visual Arts Education in Early Childhood.

“I believe that everyone has been created in God’s image with innate creativity and that part of knowing God and knowing ourselves is to explore that creativity.  Art is an incredible way to explore who we are and who we have been created to be.”

Joel Gibson is a photographer, videographer and writer with a Bachelor of Arts (Creative Writing) from Curtin University. While much of his time is spent working in digital media for a not for profit organisation, he continues to pursue his passion for the visual image with his own small photo and video business and through the steady accumulation of books (and hopefully knowledge) on photography and culture.

“Creating art, whether through the medium of photography, film or the written word, gives me a way to intentionally respond to the motions of life and learn more about myself. My faith achieves something similar while also pointing to a higher Truth.”

Erin Coates is creative producer and artist living in Boorloo Perth. She has worked in various professional arts roles over the past two decades, including as a creative producer, writer for national arts journals, academic and public art coordinator. Throughout her career Erin has undertaken freelance curatorial projects and she also held the role of Special Projects Curator at Fremantle Arts Centre for nearly a decade, where she worked on a number of key Western Australian exhibitions and national touring projects. Erin is a senior adjunct lecturer at the University of Western Australia and she holds a Master of Fine Arts from the University of British Columbia, Canada.

“I am passionate about supporting and sharing the work of Australian artists and the Mandorla Art Award provides an excellent opportunity for artists to show in a high calibre and thought-provoking exhibition context.  I feel honoured to be able to contribute to this award and look forward to working with artists at all points of their careers and from across Australia.”

Mandy-lynn Van Der Schyff is a Graphic Designer with over seven years of experience. She moved to Perth in 2015 from South Africa and finds her inspiration through beautiful native flowers in Western Australia, the breathtaking landscape, and small local coffee shops. She has a Fine Arts background which led her to study Graphic Design and Business Communication. Mandy-lynn currently works part-time in a Digital Communications and Marketing role and runs her own Marketing Support and Design business.

“It is a privilege to be part of Mandorla Art Award, which has carried its Christian values and expression for so many years. It holds such valuable history. I am excited to work alongside such a vibrant committee and I hope to learn, contribute and add value to its bright future.”