Jan Jenkins responds to Swarm, a dystopian novel on subsistence survivalism by author Lauren Carter. In their struggle to survive in the rural wilds, the characters' hope and desolation are mirrored in the swarm of bees that they keep. For Jenkins, this story is about cooperation, compassion, hard work, and persistence in the face of adversity. She was drawn to the wilderness survival skills the characters in Swarm would have had to acquire to live off the land. Jenkins committed to learning about bees, wild edibles that grow in Manitoba, and handmaking paper from recyclable trash and she explored ways to creatively express her vision of the bounty that the wilds of Manitoba have to offer through her hand-making paper, pen and ink, printmaking, watercolour and collage. On the Ground is the outcome.

Jenkin's work is influenced by the meditative practice of zendoodling and the intricate repeating patterns found in textiles, decorative tiling, and nature.

Paste this link into your browser to view Jan's interview. https://youtu.be/mhx2EVN50zA

Jan Jenkins responds to Swarm, a dystopian novel on subsistence survivalism by author Lauren Carter. In their struggle to survive in the rural wilds, the characters' hope and desolation are mirrored in the swarm of bees that they keep. For Jenkins, this story is about cooperation, compassion, hard work, and persistence in the face of adversity. She was drawn to the wilderness survival skills the characters in Swarm would have had to acquire to live off the land. Jenkins committed to learning about bees, wild edibles that grow in Manitoba, and handmaking paper from recyclable trash and she explored ways to creatively express her vision of the bounty that the wilds of Manitoba have to offer through her hand-making paper, pen and ink, printmaking, watercolour and collage. On the Ground is the outcome. Jenkin's work is influenced by the meditative practice of zendoodling and the intricate repeating patterns found in textiles, decorative tiling, and nature.