Meet Wendy Vasquez of Earth Mama Venice

Today we’d like to introduce you to Wendy Vasquez.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Wendy. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I grew up on the beaches of Venice and Santa Monica. I was drawn to the artistic energy in Venice. Music of the 80’s, the Punk scene, the vibe of the era. Venice was like the Wild West in those days. A lot of gang violence, very gritty. The city had a different flavor. Seems there was always amazing graffiti art on every corner, as well as drug dealers on every corner. I was drawn to all of it. I played the cello very seriously throughout my childhood until I was a young adult. I went to a Performing Arts high school in Santa Monica and played in a master class with Cello virtuoso YoYo Ma. The ultra conservative classical music world was very difficult for me. The pull to see the bands in Hollywood, and live a life where I could express myself freely overpowered me.

As I fell deeper into that life and eventually the lifestyle, I lost my way. The partying at some point was no longer a party, it had become a serious business. I was introduced to heavy drugs. Through those lonely and desperate years I would draw or design as a way of feeling alive. For a time I made belts using vintage Triumph motorcycle emblems as belt buckles with old recycled leather belts. I sold them at the coolest stores on Melrose. But I was trapped in the cycle of addiction. I lost many years, as well as many years of my freedom. In 1997 I changed my life. Nothing profound happened. I made a choice. I decided to live. The road back was filled with new challenges, sometimes daily. Everything was new, I was very intimidated.

Needless to say, I had a great deal of work to do to find self-love, self-esteem, and confidence. It was slow going. I was very fortunate, my Mom was a successful handbag designer, and I went to work for her. It was a safe and small environment. I began to find my way. I also began working at Elyse Walker. An upscale boutique in the Pacific Palisades. I began to get my own customers. A lovely lady asked if I would be willing to re-organize her closet and wardrobe. That turned into a 15 years closet consulting and wardrobing business. It was amazing. A transformation had begun. I started to understand the value of kindness, love, helping others, and the strength of community. I was ready for the next challenge.

Has it been a smooth road?
As I get older, I find that everyone has trials, even tragedy in their life. But, there are always challenges. Navigating my way from the life I had led was definitely a process. But my perspective had shifted. I write a gratitude list before I begin my day, I find this takes me out of whatever is troubling me and helps me get back to center. When I was in my early 30’s, I met an amazing man. Someone who lifted me up, and truly saw my worth as a person, and never tried to extinguish my passions. He was a single dad of three. I chose to move out of LA with him, and we were married. It was the best time in my life. We started a business of refurbishing old Lowrider Chevy Impala’s. He was Chicano and loved his rich culture. It was a beautiful time in my life, my husband Danny and I did all of it together. Jumping into the truck, driving out of state, picking up cars, doing car shows. I loved my life. We had a beautiful baby girl, Vivian, in 2006. Then my life crashed down around me. My husband Danny fell at work at a construction site in July 2007. He died a few days later. I was 40, and a widow with a baby. Four months later, Vivian was diagnosed with Autism, at 22 months.

For many years I felt like a ghost, going through the motions of life. It was my innocent lovely daughter that saved me. I understood that I had only two choices. To fall apart and give into the pain, or to find the steel within me, as I have done over and over in my life. I chose to rise up and help this little girl. The journey navigating Autism is not for the faint of heart. You have to be a warrior. There are no breaks. I understood early on that as young as she was, the more services I got her, the better her life and my life would be. It has not been easy. I cry a lot in my car, sometimes I lose my mind, but by God’s grace, I am steady. For you parents out there, I know you feel my pain, having a teenager in the house has its own challenges. I stay in gratitude. I meditate I go to the gym. I take care of myself, and in turn, I take care of her.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
Earth Mama Venice was born from my love of our beautiful earth, and the need to express myself. I am passionate about our ocean, shells, raw organic materials. It moves me. I love color and crazy texture. I have always felt pulled to Native American culture. The majesty, the pride, it fills my spirit.

Each of my handmade Wall Hangings is completely different. All my materials are nature made. From hand loomed and dip dyed wools, vintage bone arrowheads to antique sterling Navajo pieces. I do pieces using amazing shells and crystal. I love the texture and beauty of rough unpolished, raw crystal slabs and turquoise chunks. I love vintage everything. I look for unusual hand-carved bone and minerals to use in my pieces. And of course, exotic feathers by the ton, many of which I hand paint.

My joy is making giant wall hangings. I choose the hand loomed, and hand dyed yarns in all different colors. I love the natural colors of a sunset or the depths of the ocean. It’s the textures that give them such richness and beauty.

After I made my first piece, I showed a friend, and she bought it on the spot. It just made sense to me to put my energy into creating these pieces that give me great joy. It has been something that my daughter and I do together. When I make a piece, she is creating her own next to me. Art of any form has been instrumental to her emotional well being. It has a calming effect on her, as it does all of us. I began making one-of-a-kind feather headbands. Using deer suede, turquoise, buffalo teeth, arrowheads, and vintage beads. They are amazing as a hatband, headband or tied around the neck with layered jewelry.

I have been very fortunate. I showed a few pieces to the owner of Principessa on Abbot Kinney, and she became a huge supporter of my work. My pieces found a home in the window front for four years. It was amazing for my work to be featured on Abbot Kinney, one of the most vibrant and iconic streets in L.A. Through Principessa, Pop/Hip hop singer, Jhene’ Aiko started collecting my pieces, and eventually asked me to design her set at Coachella. The OG gypsy goddess Stevie Nicks bought four wall hangings for her homes. I was also one of the featured Coachella artists at Planet Blue Venice, and have been in many very cool boutiques in Venice and the Westside.

I work with interior designers, creating large scale Wall Hangings that promote flow and energy in a space. I am happy to accept commissions and love the challenge.

It is my dream for my wall hangings to hang in organic restaurants and boutique hotels.

Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I definitely feel L.A. is the place for an artist. The diverse and open-minded spirit in our city celebrates art in any form. In this time of social media, people are hungry to connect on a spiritual level and be inspired by the tangible.

Starting out, I would share my work with friends, Instagram gets involved with Pop Up’s in your community.

Contact Info:

• Phone: 310-905-0197
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: #earthmamavenice

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