Tamworth artist Jodie Herden accepted to art residency in France

Contemporary Aboriginal artist, Jodie Herden will take part in a residency program at Chateau d'Orquevaux in the north of France in September.

The achievement came after a successful application process and will see her work with talented artists from around the world.

“I applied for the residency process because I am at a point where art is my main focus,” she said.

“My kids have all grown up and I’ve got the time and thought this was the next stage.

“It is a dream come true, I applied and to be successful is a bit of a shock.”

Read more:

Mrs Herden mostly uses painting as her medium with her unique Aboriginal artwork telling a story with each brush stroke.

“I’m very much about story telling, Aboriginal art and the stories it tells is the biggest aspect of art for me,” she said.

“It’s a strong connection that you have with each brush stroke.

“For me personally it is telling a story.” 

In September, Mrs Herden could be working with up to 15 artists around the world at any given time.

“You get to be in the company of other creative people, which is fantastic,” she said.

“If you leave one of the works you created there as part of the program it becomes part of a collection.

“It will also be good to spent a month exploring and seeing the work of my favourite artists.

“It’s really exciting and I get to share my work and promote Aboriginal art around the world.”

Mrs Herden has been involved with many community art projects in the Tamworth area including the transformation of electrical substations around the CBD into colourful and meaningful works of art towards the end of last year.

She is now busy preparing for the once in a lifetime journey and has set up a crowd funding page to help get her on her way.

To donate, visit https://www.gofundme.com/35z70eg and help her reach her goal.