Pinay Artist’s SF Mural Highlights Her Mom as the Central Figure

In the bustling streets of San Francisco, there's a vibrant splash of Filipino culture that’ll captivate the eyes of passersby. The artwork, titled "Ani = Harvested Hopes," isn't just any mural; it’s a tribute of love, sacrifice, and resilience, stitched together by a Filipina artist.

Drawing inspiration from her mother, Venazir "Vena" Martinez’s mural is more than just an artistic masterpiece; it is a heartfelt tribute to her mother, Edelhany "Annie" Laxa Martinez, and a testament to the enduring spirit of Filipino talent and love.

An Artistic Journey Rooted in Family and Passion

Vena’s journey began in the humble corners of Rosal Street, Romulo Boulevard, San Vicente, Tarlac City. Growing up, the walls of their home doubled as canvases, sparking her passion for art at a young age.

"Drawing with crayons was our bonding activity," Vena fondly recalls the memory with her siblings. Encouraged by her teachers from elementary to high school, Vena competed in various art contests like editorial cartooning and poster-making contests. Despite the setbacks, like not making it to the nationals, Vena is grateful for the unwavering support that she got from her parents.

“Although I never made it to the nationals, my parents were incredibly supportive. They attended all our extracurricular events and never pressured me or my siblings.” She adds, “win or lose, they were genuinely happy with whatever we achieved, knowing we did our best. Their presence and encouragement meant the world to us.

When it came time for college, the journey took an interesting turn. Vena planned to follow in her father's footsteps to become an engineer, but life had other plans. Failing the UPCAT to attend UP Diliman and Vena found herself in UP Baguio's Fine Arts program after passing the a Talent Determination Test at UP Baguio, which was her parents’ idea to give it a try.

But Vena was filled with doubts back then. Doubts influenced by the common notion that “walang pera sa arts.” She recalled, “I found myself uncertain about pursuing Fine Arts. I had initially wanted to become an architect because "society says" that being in a technical course would lead to a comfortable, financially stable life.”

It was only after a visit in Bonifacio Global City and she saw murals for the first time that she knew that street art was her calling.

The Mural That Connects

Fueled by her newfound passion for street art and her parents' unwavering support, Vena began honing her talents and building her unique brand of artistic storytelling in the streets of Baguio.

Inspired profoundly by Cordilleran culture, Vena found the wick that continued to fuel her artistic journey. "When I first got into street art, I didn’t see myself as the typical underground hip-hop artist but rather as an educator," she explains.

Her initial social experiment involved "vandalizing" an entire barangay with an iconic indigenous tattoo design of a ginayaman, a centipede-like structure. This marked the beginning of her journey and led to the introduction of the "Red String."

"I introduced the Red String, symbolizing the dominant materials used in our weaving traditions. This red string connects each cultural advocate from respective ethnolinguistic groups," Vena elaborates.

Further detailing this project, she explains, "The core story is about individuals spreading out, going their separate ways, walking, running, and crawling in search of something. As they embark on their journey of self-discovery, they unconsciously lose their color; the further they go, the more details of their clothes diminish. They are seeking their identity through external influences."

Vena adds, "That thread stretches and tangles across time and space but never breaks. It stitches together the stories of our lives and relationships with other people, guiding every decision we make."

From Local Beginnings to International Recognition

That very thread connected Vena to numerous opportunities, ultimately earning her project, Hila-bana, local and international recognition.

She was nominated to serve under the Creative Baguio City Council for the UNESCO Creative Cities Network as a Visual Arts Representative. Her work led to exhibitions in the U.S., where she connected with influential individuals like Sonia Delen, the first Filipina Vice President for Global Leasing at Bank of America, and acclaimed writer and street art connoisseur Tom Nickel. These connections allowed her to introduce her art to various corners of the world.

Emboldened by these experiences, Vena embarked on her most ambitious project yet—the creation of "Ani = Harvested Hopes." This project marked the beginning of the Red String extending to introduce Filipino culture to more communities.

"I continue to weave the red thread of Filipino identity, one wall at a time, inspiring unity, resilience, and hope for generations to come," she says.

Tribute to Heritage and Family

Given the opportunity to design a 2500 sq ft mural in the heart of the SOMA District in San Francisco was a significant milestone for Vena, both literally and figuratively. But even with such grand canvas, she never forgot her roots.

"Ani = Harvested Hopes" is not just a mural; it’s a deeply personal tribute to Vena’s mother, Edelhany "Annie" Laxa Martinez. Recalling a poignant memory of her mother carrying a "Bilao" from the market, Vena says, "Ani is a symbol of home and abundance."

The artwork captures the essence of migrant workers who sought better lives for their families and pays homage to the numerous families who welcomed Vena with open arms in the United States. "The homes who embraced me as I was braving a new world filled the void and loneliness I felt in my time away from home with the same love and care my own parents would have shown," she states.

Designing the mural, Vena shared how she came to the idea to make the image of her mom the focal point of the art. Beyond her extensive research on Filipino American history in San Francisco, it was her introspective approach that gave heart to the mural. "I integrated my personal migration history into the broader tapestry of immigrants in the United States. This led to the inclusion of elements such as my mom and a likeness of myself, represented by pumping red thread out of the Poso."

"When I shared with my mom that I planned to have her as the focal point of my art, she was overjoyed. She has never traveled the world, let alone the U.S., so the idea of her image being part of a mural as big as a building was beyond her wildest dreams."

Vena excitedly shares that her art has been received positively by the community. “Many have said it brings a sense of pride, unity, and home, inspiring conversations about our collective past and future aspirations.”

Throughout this journey, Vena remains grateful, noting how her art also became a tool to reconnect with relatives living abroad and to create new connections that helped her realize her visions.

"The homes who embraced me as I was braving a new world, filled the void and loneliness I felt in my time away from home with the same love and care my own parents would have shown," Vena says.

Art Fueled by Parents' Love

"My parents never missed a competition. My dad was always supportive and watched us during our trainings. My parents are the kind of people who would always show up for their children and even for other people," Vena recalls.

If there’s one motivation that pushed her to bring her art to greater heights, it was her incredible support system at home.

"I believe my values, worldview, passion, and drive come from my parents. I always want to make them proud, which is my way of repaying them for all the hardships they've endured."

She adds about her father Renato Martinez, "My dad epitomizes being a good provider and is someone I look up to because he always puts family first. My mom is our beacon of hope. An educator all her life, she set an example of dedication and perseverance."

Support continues with her siblings. "My sister helped me finalize my first-ever street art in Baguio City. My brother is always there for me when things go south. They are my best friends in the world, and I am truly blessed to have a family as selfless, empathetic, and generous as them. I love them so much."

Vena's mom shares that they never equated success with money. "Regardless of the discipline your children choose to pursue, there is no such thing as ‘walang pera’—if you operate in a paradigm of service that provides significance to others, you are already successful. Money is not always the yardstick to success," Mommy Annie says.

Mommy Annie also recalls seeing Vena’s potential early on. "We already knew that Vena had a knack for drawing since she was a child, as she usually used our walls as her canvas—she was a muralist prodigy."

Her advice to parents of kids showing interest in art at a young age: "As parents, aside from the financial obligations, we must ensure that we create a safe space or environment for our children to harness their gifts and passions and turn them into their potential power when they grow up."

In the end, it is the unwavering love and support of her family that enables Vena to continuously weave the vibrant red thread of Filipino identity through her art, inspiring unity, resilience, and hope for generations to come.

Vena's future plans continue to center around migration stories and their profound impacts.

"The red thread will continue to symbolize the connections between these diverse migration stories, weaving through historical and modern narratives to highlight the continuity and evolution of cultural identities," Vena says.