My Tennessee Art focuses on creativity and beauty drawing from the rich heritage and natural resources of Tennessee. Art takes many forms, so the offerings from our team take many forms. Painting, beadweaving, fiber arts, wood carving, metalsmith, photography . . . even words molded into poetry and song.
The PBJ Arts Company manages My Tennessee Art, established in 2011 as a start-up, family based company devoted to artistry and craftmanship. Business owner Paul Jinkerson was born in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, but has lived in Tennessee all his life. Jinkerson started life with physical challenges stemming from a congenital birth defect. Crippled by severe seizures and breathing difficulties, he required extensive hospitalization and rehabilitation twice before the age of 15.
Since then, Jinkerson has managed to overcome most of these obstacles through medication, physical therapy, and answered prayers. His determination, fortified by his family’s devotion and assistance, brought him through these challenges. He graduated from Oak Ridge High School a year early, thanks to an individualized education plan. After a year of college, Jinkerson worked for a time doing light industrial work, fast food service, and construction. Eventually, his disability disqualified him from employment in any industrial work. He began to focus on work as a care-giver for those with some degree of physical limitations.
His mother, Beth, influenced his interest in art. She has been a Tennessee artisan since the 1990s. If you are a Tennessee-based artist interested in working with My Tennessee Art, please leave a comment.
