WS Chronicle

By Felecia Piggott-Long, Ph.D

Ernel Martinez has painted more than 100 murals during the 20 years he has professionally marketed his craft. Born in Belize, Central America, Martinez left his native area when he was a toddler and relocated with his family to Los Angeles, California. Martinez recalls that murals covered many of the buildings in Los Angeles, and he was greatly inspired by them as a youth. 

Martinez has been in the States for more than 40 years. He and his wife, Jenise, lived in Garner, North Carolina, for the last two years, but they relocated to Winston-Salem a year ago with their two children, Gabriella and Miles. 

The most recent project Martinez completed in the Twin City is a mural that he refers to as “Winston-Salem Art History: Our History, Our Future.” The mural hangs in the Carver School Road Branch Library, located in the Mazie Woodruff Center, a joint venture with Forsyth Technical Community College. This branch features modern Afrocentric décor, reflecting the neighborhood’s African American heritage. The mural which Martinez completed in August features the front of Carver High School, a Carver High School graduate rejoicing, the Carver High School Marching Band from the 1960s, a golfer landing a hole on the Winston-Lake Golf Course, the famous yellow Shell Gas icon from the south Side of Winston-Salem, historic buildings from the downtown area, the log cabin in Old Salem, and other local landmarks. 

The ribbon cutting ceremony was held at the library on Friday, Aug. 18. Phyllis Moore, business, family and consumer science marketing educator, staged an interview with Martinez at the library about the mural on Aug. 24. Martinez expressed his views about how honored he felt recording the story of Winston-Salem through visual art.

 “Just imagine the impact that Carver High School has had on our community. I turned the tops of the buildings in the mural into podiums for the youth to find their voices,” said Martinez. “They are responsible for transforming the city for the better. They are the next generation of leaders. I have portrayed one of the Carver graduates with his finger lifted up to the sky. Let their voices be heard, on the rise, growing.”

Dr. Thyais Maxwell, principal of Carver High School, understands the value of the portrayal of Carver Yellow Jackets in this recent masterpiece of American Art.

“The mural showed the rich historical tradition that belongs not only to Winston-Salem, but to a history of national importance that happened right here in East Winston, and Carver High School is a part of that.” said Maxwell. “Carver’s band, the athletics, and the academics that happened at Carver helped shape the world. Phenomenal people were educated here and were given the chance to be great in these walls. That then transferred to our community, and the impact has been transformative.”

According to library assistant Jordan Alford, “There have been many positive comments about the mural. Also, several adults and teens came out to help paint the mural on a Saturday before the artwork was completed. They were eager to get involved once they found out what Mr. Martinez was doing.”

The mural was produced on fabric canvas material that has been cut into 5 feet by 5 feet sections.

“I painted the mural in my studio at home in pieces. I would bring the pieces to the library to glue up in sections,” Martinez said. “It is put together like a large puzzle,” he continued.

 “This mural began with a conversation in January of 2023 with Mr. Kelly Bennett of the Arts Council, and the planning development services for the county,” Martinez said.

Martinez has done murals across the country. He completed his undergraduate BFA at Kutz Town University and his MFA at the University of Pennsylvania in 2004.

“I am a teaching artist. I have been blessed to work and teach in prisons, retreats, homes and institutions of art,” said Martinez.

“If we do not know our history, we are missing key components and concepts that are critical to our foundation and continued growth,” said Dr. Maxwell. “The mural showed the pride that is Carver and Winston-Salem. The mural has so many beautiful images that emulated the pride that resonates within our school and the community.”