Art brings life to survivors of violence at Louisville's Speed Art Museum

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Jasmine Blackman was shot 9 times, survived and has the scars to prove it.

Wednesday evening, Blackman entered the Speed Art Museum using a cane to move through large crowds, her balance is not quite back to normal. She is about to see a display - a picture of her as a survivor.

“What I see is someone who could have broke but didn't,” Blackman said.

The scar on her neck is from an emergency tracheotomy, another scar on her hand is from a bullet. Seven scars are from bullets that pierced her stomach and legs.

“I have grown to love them. They are a part of me now," Blackman said.

On Thanksgiving 2022, Blackman was in her car as she had just left work when someone in a mask started shooting. She was hit nine times. After weeks in the hospital and surgery to bring her back, she just finished physical therapy and still has a long way to go.

“Healing takes time a lot of time, my body still hurts a lot, I still have the same pain I had in the beginning," said Blackman.

It has been a year and a half since she was shot. Blackman doesn’t watch the news much these days as the violence in the city is too much for her.

“Especially when I see kids, when I see kids get shot or shoot themselves and stuff like that, it saddens me because kids shouldn't have to go through nothing like that," said Blackman.

The guy that see the results of violence first hand is UofL trauma surgeon Dr. Jason Smith, he recognized Jasmine right away.

“And you want to talk about an advocate for victims of violence she is one, that is her action everyone comes out of this with some kind of action or want to change or do better and that has become her action,” Dr. Smith said.

The Speed Art Museum puts on this display every year. Blackman is one of 14 victims of violence that shared their story of survival through art and pictures.

“I see a fighter when I look at myself, and my pictures I look like I have not been through anything, and I love that about me,” said Blackman

Police have not arrested the person that shot her.