Gustavo Avina
Center Stage, 2024
Serigraph, Ed. of 58
22 x 15 in. 

When I was asked to write a song about art and music, as I experienced them, it wasn't hard for my thoughts to go back to my younger years. Now, at 50, I must admit that, as most artists and musicians will agree or deny, nostalgia has never stopped existing in my brain. 

I felt like a shy teenager with a radio to my ear 24/7, listening to songs that moved and reached my soul. Radio turned into cassettes and soon a Walkman, which felt like a year's worth of McDonald's paychecks to get. I sang out loud with headphones on at school, not hearing my voice, and was stopped by my math teacher, who confiscated my Walkman. At the same time, I insisted I join the choir, which was filled with mostly girls. I was in! Plus, an easy A!

I was always in awe of my friends in bands, playing backyard gigs, not knowing that one day that would be me. Center Stage, creating moving art with my brothers, Blue Experiment. Joining other artists, our friends. Gigging all over East LA, Cali, Mexico. To a bunch of young guys in the world! 

It was an honor to tour with my brothers, sharing messages of hope, courage, resilience, pride, and love. My people. Moving to our rhythm, our sound, our words, my voice. 

This song is, without a doubt, and would not exist if it wasn't for my good friend, a true blast from my past, Quetzal Flores. And by Marisol Torress, who captured the essence of My Past, My Soul, My Brothers, Our Message, and our time in a truly nostalgic mural.