Cathryn Jenkins grew up in Revelestoke, BC., a small town nestled between the Selkirk and Monashee mountain ranges, near the Alberta border. As a young girl and the daughter of noted sculptor, Fran Jenkins, she divided much of her time between her mother's studio and the wilds of the nearby Glacier National Park. She spent many hours at her mother's side learning about the qualities of different stones, while gaining an understanding of line and form as well as an appreciation for the relationship between artist and medium.
At 14-years-old, Jenkins picked up a hammer and chisel for the first time, sparking a life-long passion for sculpture and fine art. At 19 she sold her first piece, and today at 48-inspired by such artists as Emily Carr; American sculptors Rosetta and Sandy Scott; and of course her mother- Jenkins' stylized representational forms have become an increasingly strong presence in the art world.
Her most recent works-which include the biggest serpentine grizzlies ever seen- is quickly gaining recognition among both private and corporate collectors.
Known for the fluidity and presence of her pieces, Jenkins received awards at both the American Women Artists (AWA) 2000, 2002 and 2004 competitions in Santa Fe, N.M., as well as First Place: Three Dimensional at the 19th annual Lewis-Clark Centre for Arts and History competition in Lewiston, Idaho for sculptures from her wildlife series.
With each of her pieces, she has the feeling that the animal or subject-complete with its own personality or particular qualities- is already present in the stone, and as she works, it somehow assists her in releasing it. In Jenkins' mind, each carving is the first; each experience and relationship with the individual subject is brand-new and therefore something of which she can never grow tired. She continues to work on her "book of bears," comparing the creation of each sculpture to writing a single page in a great novel-one that is only just getting started.