Radiant Jasmin: Visual Artist & Poetess

Radiant Jasmin poetry reading 2010, photo by J. Ordonez Photo

Artist Radiant Jasmin of Randolph, MA has been performing art and creating visual art for years for over 20 years. She is a mother of two children, son Patanjali, 19 and daughter Sakeena, 16. Married to Haji Shearer who a social worker and artist as well. She studied at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts. Her artwork is colorful and promotes positivity. Her paintings are on exhibition in many galleries in Massachusetts, her most recent exhibition, “A Life in Full Color” at the Akillian Gallery at Massasoit Community College, was well received,  many of students there refused to go back to their classes, wanting to finish viewing all of her work on exhibition. The gallery reception was pared with a several readings of her heartfelt poetry.  Radiant Jasmin also teaches art programs for adults and children in many cities throughout Massachusetts her courses include jewelry making, painting, and theatre. 

I traveled to Jasmin’s quiet home in Randolph, MA where I met with her over lemon tea. After being  greeted by Jasmin’s 16yr old daughter Sakeena’s energentic, and sweet furry white puppy dog, perfectly named snowball, we sat down at the couch and began our interview. 

 Janina Ordonez: “Which came first your visual art or your poetry?” 

Radiant Jasmin: “They pretty much started around the same time- I’ve always been an artist. I come from a family of artist, my Step-Grandfather played trumpet, Aunts and uncles danced, and mother did theatre. As a child I remember creating these long drawn out- week to month long stories with an aunt of mine, who was close to me in age. I remember us creating the characters and acting then out- even over the phone when we’re able to visit each other and drawing the illustrations for our own stories. It was like a soap opera or a series (laughing). And  I started poetry probably in my late teens, when I met and started dating my husband Haji. He wrote poetry and being introducing me to more poetry, and began to pick it up.” 

Janina Ordonez: “There are many artist’s that create from a what some would consider a “selfish” place-they create for themselves, and if others understand their work then its and added bonus and there are the “giving” artists who create their works for others, kind of the saying, let your light shine so others will have courage to do so too, Do you feel like you create from either of these places? 

Radiant Jasmin: “I create from a balance of the both- A lot of it is what makes me feel good often. Like this piece on the table over here- (points to an art piece made with fiber glass on table in the room with us). This piece is called “Hour Glasses of Color” –and it was just that I liked the colors and I wanted to see them next to each other –and I liked that shapes and I wanted to see how they would look next to one another- (laughing) –you know, so a lot me my work is that I am in the moment, and I love the colors and I am just having a great time. But I also produce works, that through prayer- I ask for, works that are going to peace to the world. I believe that art is a manifestation of God’s love and light, and I create my art work to counteract the bad things, like fear and depression, to help bring peace and joy to the world.” 

Janina Ordonez: “I heard you say that being an artist is your purpose, how do you feel that you came upon that? Was it just after a certain amount of time of you having been an artist that you said to yourself “Yeah, this is who I am, and this my purpose”, How did your realize it? 

Radiant Jasmin: “As a little girl I knew I wanted to be an artist,  I didn’t know what medium or what field but being the only child for almost eight years before my younger siblings were born and it  I lived with my grandmother for most of those eight years and I kind of felt like I was the little sister of my aunts and uncles who were all involved in the arts in some way many have contributed to it but I was never told that I had to be an artist or that they had to be artists. It was just something you did like sleeping, breathing and walk. It something we do creatively to express our joy of living. Most people around the world incorporate art making into their daily lives, I just think that recently in America that it has been separated from daily life but most cultures do often create art for various purposes. 

Janina Ordonez: “In this month, March, is National Month for Women’s History, I remember there was one piece that you had on display at the Akillian Gallery opening that had a symbol of a goddess, what inspired that piece? 

Radiant Jasmin: “The name of that piece is  Yemeya on a Full Moon Evening (See figure 1). The goddess Yemeya  is the African goddess of water and the ocean and is controls the energy between the Earth’s moon and tides, so is very powerful. For me it symbolizes how the female energy in the world is coming back into balance. And a lot of westernized religions have pushed the female down and at the power has been attributed to males. I believe there is an imbalance because of it. Think about it- if you have a mother-you have a father- there is both, one is not more powerful than the other. 

Figure 1-"Yemeya on a Full Moon Evening" Art work by Radiant Jasmin, Photo By J. Ordonez Photo.

Janina Ordonez: “What are some goals that you have for your art work?”

Radiant Jasmin: “ Well because I am a mother, I often find that I’m having to put my art work on hold to taking care of my children , so I have been working on applying into and artist retreat program in New Hampshire that supplies full room and board and supplies for my art, and I would be housed with other artist that there to create as well. I would be able to pretty much wake up and create without any distractions. And hopefully once I am accepted I will be able to work on a project that I’ve been thinking about calling “The three essentials” and it would be based around major issues going on in the world right now, housing, food, and clothing.

Readers please join me in wishing Radiant Jasmin the best in all artist future endeavors!

* Radiant Jasmin will be teaching two, 12 week courses for women and their children who have experienced domestic violence at the Brockton Family and Community Resource in mid March. If you, and or someone you know would like to participate sign up you can contact Radiant Jasmin at one of the following:

P: 617. 319. 9778 

Email:  radiantjasmin@juno.com 

Blog : radiantjasmin.blogspot.com 

This blog is an extention of  the Janina Ordonez Photography site.