We were lucky to catch up with Jasmine Graham recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Jasmine thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

I must say that most of my projects are meaningful to me. When it comes to my Art, I am very cautious about what I put out into the world. When I am creating, I often think to myself… “what am I saying?” and “Who am I saying it to?”

THE BLACKOUT project holds a special place in my heart for multiple reasons.
*It was my FIRST solo Art showcase.
*The Art showcase was also a book release for my self-published Novella The Blackout.
*I created all original photo installations to occupy the theme of the Novella.
*The Art showcase highlighted BLACK MEN in all of their forms. I showcased the beauty, the pain the misunderstanding, and the glory of black men.

I started writing The Blackout Novella at the end of 2019 in a writing workshop hosted by The Room Project in Detroit. I was unsure of what to write about because the possibilities are quite literally endless. I prayed and the idea was downloaded into my spirit like only God can do. The Novella follows a young man, Genesis. During a blackout in his city he is shot by the police and his spirit is transcended to a black utopia. In this utopia, everything is catered to, in favor of, and made for people of color who have been killed by systematic racism. He has to decide if he is going to stay in a space where he is celebrated or go back to a world where his skin color is a target.

I was halfway through the Novella when the news broke of the horrific MURDER of George Floyd. I KNEW that once I was done writing this Novella I had to get it out to the world. I self-published the Novella through Amazon’s KDP program and had the books printed at a local print shop.

THE BLACKOUT ART SHOWCASE WAS MY LOVE LETTER TO BLACK MEN. I LOVE YOU AND YOU ARE WORTHY.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Of course, I always say I am a Broadcast Journalist by trade and an Artist by heart. Growing up, I wanted to be a lot of things, but most of all I wanted to make art for a living. But no one tells a little girl she can be a successful artist, especially a little black girl. I am grateful for my degree in Broadcast Journalism because it taught me to be in front of the camera and behind the camera. I learned to tell impactful and informational stories through writing photos, and videos. I am now skilled in writing for online, tv, radio, and podcasting.

After graduating I decided against going into TV News after graduating because I felt that the news wasn’t aligning with my mission in life. The job of a journalist is to give people the information they need to be free and self-governing. I felt that I could do that better freelancing.

I freelanced my writing and started blogs, and clothing lines, and experimented with mediums until I was brave enough myself an Artist.

I was a part of my first Art Showcase in the fall of September 2019 and I highlighted A Journey Through A Black Womans Hair. The next year during a pandemic I wrote and self-published a Novella called The Blackout (available on Amazon). To launch that Novella I produced an Art Showcase featuring the complexity of the Black Man. In 2021 I published a poetry and art book to go along with my second self-produced solo show, “A Love Letter To The Land.”

Throughout the years I have been a part of group art shows, artist fellowships, art fairs, and more.

My goal as an artist is to share the beauty and shed light on misconceptions of the underrepresented through whatever medium calls to me at the time. I want to go down in history as an artist who cared about her community, who evoked change, and who left the world a better place because my art was in it. I want my art to live on past me and inspire the next generation.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

I am a HUSTLER! At any given moment, I have between two and five jobs that I am juggling to fund my art career. I am a freelance writer, photographer, and creative producer, I work in social media, and I am an art teacher with a variety of non-profits. I also bop through a few restaurants as a server.

I have never worked a traditional 9-5 for longer than two weeks. So if I have to work 50 jobs to support myself and my art I will! I know that this is not a forever thing, and each year, each month, and each week I get closer and closer to art paying all of my bills and then some.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist and creative is turning my imagination into reality every day. I love seeing the youth create artwork as well. I love watching the creative dots connect. I love my client’s reactions when I exceed their expectations.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.stillstostory.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_jasminegraham/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jasmine.domonique
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMgrurx-23n8P3Q3DIwLfwQ
• Other: https://www.instagram.com/stillstostory/

Image Credits
Cy Abdelnour – in the brown Mike Jordon – the one in the black with the newspaper the rest are self-shot or family