Meet Jai Casso | Visual Creative & Poet

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jai Casso and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Casso, Let’s talk about principles and values – what matters to you most?
The value I consider most important, would have to be creative truth. I feel its my responsibility to be intentional with my creativity, which is the driving force of evolution in this world. The peace, & success that come with walking your authentic path & being true to yourself is priceless. When I think of my legacy beyond anything else I’d like to be remembered as someone who captured and produced truth.

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
When I think about what it means to be set apart, the only way for me to do that is to be 100% myself. I pride myself on co creating with the most high. Being a vessel that’s aware of her gifts and doing what she can to honor and operate in those gifts with a high level of passion, integrity, & trust. Those 3 attributes are a big factor in how I got to where I am professionally. There’s been a lot of attention to detail, sleepless nights, successful days, minor setbacks, major comebacks, planting seeds and baring fruit. Nothing has been easy but every step has been true, I’ve overcome by continuing to paint and allowing the most high, the people & the creations to remind me why I do this when discouraged. I’ve learned that sometimes you have to step away from the craft and allow yourself to be re inspired by the art of life to realign your vision. I want people to know that everything I do stands for creativity. There’s freedom there and I strive to exists in that freedom while maintaining discernment. My brand is for the true creative in every field and all the stories they want to tell .

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
There’s so much to do around the city, I tend to stay out of the way spending most of my time in photography & recording studios, but I love exploring Atlanta with my people when they come to town. When showing anyone around my focus tends to be art based. One of my favorite places to go on the east side is Little 5 points. The energy there is one of a kind, & its a creative hub for the city. From all the black businesses on that block to the unique experiences you may have with the community its a definite stop for me. My go to spot for food will always be American Deli, that 10pc is legendary iykyk. Another dope spot is Cafe Bourbon Street, a New Orleans styled food truck that is run by a family from Nola. Everything about this business I love, and the food is bomb so we’d have to hit the south side for that for sure. Then of course being that I’m a shooter we’d have to go to the west side and stop at Chil Studios. Its one of the premiere photography and production spots in the city, if you’re here with me most likely we’re gonna get a shoot in before you leave. For entertainment, my people are poets so we’d hit an open mic probably at Apache or catch a show at the legendary Tabernacle. Another east side gem is the Starlight Drive In movie theater gotta catch a movie there. A trip to Cascade or Golden Glide is a must to bask in all the black beauty of the legendary skating rinks here too. The last place I’d like to go is the High Museum of Arts. The ever evolving museum that’s always bringing timeless art to the city. Visiting here will always be an art experience with me but its Atlanta so its no telling what we could get into.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Through the process of growing as a creative and as a woman I have been fortunate enough to engage with some amazing people. These people showed me real love & helped increase my innerstanding, wisdom, & knowledge which has guided me to where I am today. I’ve truly been raised by a village and I’m beyond grateful for that. The art of painting is the philosophy my brand CassoVisions stands on. Although painting isn’t an art form I practice its always been the most profound to me. All the tools and vision it takes to go from a blank canvas to a complete painting have intrigued me since I was a child. I see it as a raw example of taking your imagination, intuition, and physical action to bring something into existence that wasn’t previously there. Every craft, every job, every movement that requires seen and unseen efforts to execute is painting to me. The tools you use are your brushes, and the space in which you engage with those tools are your canvas.

While attending Bethune-Cookman University I met a very passionate and ambitious painter by the name of Christopher Jones a.k.a KaioKenWolf and he told me to “PAINT THA CITY” . For the first time in my life I met someone that innerstood what it meant to paint on a level I didn’t even get yet. At the time I had no idea I was interacting with a soul who would leave an deep imprint on how I paint moving forward. Wolf was inspiring to me on so many levels and he ignited a fire in me that burns to this day. He was one of the first people that believed in the visions I was painting not only with the camera but with my pin as well. Wolf taught me that legacy is everything and the paint you leave will stain if you get active with the brushes you choose while you’re here. He taught me impact happens through honest connection with people directly & intentionally. He taught me life is short but art is forever. I know that if I wake up with the intent to PAINT THA CITY everyday I’ll complete my job here. I carry my brother’s mission with me everywhere I step and I live to pass my brush like a baton just as he did.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/capturedbycasso/?hl=en

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXA-d3Q_9YSJ_vk-DGedTWw

Image Credits
Erykah Maxwell, CassoVisions