Defying Cerebral Palsy, Local Celebrity Hosts Art Exhibit at Rockaway Roasters

By Kami-Leigh Agard

“I can see myself, and it has helped me to say what I want to say in paint,” is a saying attributed to renowned 20th century American artist, Georgia O’Keefe. And like O’Keefe, Anthony “Tony” DiSalvo, a local young man with cerebral palsy, is expressing his own individuality and zest for life—one brush stroke at a time. Walk into Rockaway Roasters and witness for yourself how the artist’s collective body of work on display shares a deeper narrative on the power of the human spirit to overcome adversity and achieve greatness. DiSalvo refuses to be defined nor confined by his disability.

The 31-year-old was born with spastic quadriplegia, the most severe form of cerebral palsy (CP), where all four limbs are affected by muscle stiffness, and for some individuals like DiSalvo, the ability to speak is impacted. Though in a wheelchair, nothing stops this young man from living life to the fullest. For example, in the past two years, his nautical getups at the Rockaway Poseidon Parade have established him as a local celebrity. In 2023, the artist shone as King Neptune of Atlantis. And last year, he and his parents, Elizabeth and Anthony DiSalvo Sr., made a splash with their re-enactment of 1960’s classic sitcom, “Gilligan’s Island,” in which DiSalvo played Gilligan; and dad and mom, the millionaire castaways, Mr. and Mrs. Howell.

Though nonverbal, DiSalvo is able to express himself through an infrared based AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) device.

Elizabeth DiSalvo shared, “Anthony communicates with an infrared sticker that’s placed on his forehead because his arms and legs are affected by CB (cerebral palsy). So, it’s not easy for him to move a cursor with his hands. The sticker on his forehead activates the computer and just like a click with a mouse, he’s able to select words or symbols to generate speech.”

With the device, DiSalvo is also able to navigate social media. His mom laughed, “Anthony is very active on Facebook. He doesn’t just post, he talks to his friends. He knows he’s popular. Our son has more Facebook friends than we have.”

With communication, infrared technology is moving mountains for individuals with disabilities. One notable example is former NFL player and broadcaster, Tim Green, who was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Like DiSalvo, he uses an eye-tracking infrared device that allows him to interact with a computer system and generate speech.

In the art world, DiSalvo is amongst a growing cohort of individuals with cerebral palsy making headlines. Some paint with a paint brush attached to their head or even nose, others with their feet. DiSalvo uses his hands.

According to his parents, painting has been DiSalvo’s love language since he was eight years old.

Elizabeth DiSalvo, a former NYC Department of Education-District 75 adaptive physical education teacher said, “I guess because of my background in special education, I was always looking for adaptive activities to help Anthony. My husband and I were looking for something that would get his hands and arms moving more, so, we said, ‘What about painting?’

“Once he picked up the paint brush, that was it! He instantly fell in love with painting. When he was little, we would proudly put up his paintings on the fridge. Anthony even used to make calendars for the family. He would create different paintings for each month. Anthony has always been very business oriented. In fact, of all our five children, he’s the most business oriented.”

DiSalvo has two older brothers, Joseph, age 38; William, 37; his “Irish” twin, Jacob; and the youngest, Samantha, 29. Though the DiSalvos currently reside in Lynbrook, Long Island, their Rockaway roots run deep as mom, Elizabeth, was born and raised on Beach 73rd Street.

“We come to Rockaway almost every weekend as my parents still live here. Anthony loves the beach and of course, he never misses the Poseidon Parade on the boardwalk,” she said.

Through the Cerebral Palsy Association of Nassau County, DiSalvo attends Life Options, an adult day program, where he not only takes music and computer skills, but also continues to blossom his painting skills.

DiSalvo’s mom explained his painting process. “First, we adapt the height of the canvas he’s trying to access using books or something else. Then we put the paint out, and I just let him go to town. He uses a very long brush. When he’s ready for the next color, he prompts me by saying, “Change,” she said.

As for his paintings, reminiscent of revered Dutch American abstract expressionist artist, Willem de Kooning, for DiSalvo it’s all about color and movement. For example, one of his acrylic paintings titled, “Dreaming,” on display at Rockaway Roasters, plunges you into an abyss of mystery with the layering of soft lilacs, blushes and grays—dematerializing into pure light with DiSalvo’s use of turquoise and yellow.

For “Dreaming,” Anthony used the pour method, a technique that creates abstract designs by pouring different colors of paint onto a surface and allowing them to mix and flow together.

“Anthony is always searching the internet for ideas as he gets tired of doing the same thing. Once he discovered the pour method, he went to town! He mixes different colors in a bottle and then we assist him in pouring the paint through a funnel. He was into the pour method for quite a while. Over the years, Anthony has really transformed his art,” Elizabeth DiSalvo said.

Tony DiSalvo is an ambassador for Positive Exposure, a New York City-based non-profit organization founded by award-winning photographer Rick Guidotti. Positive Exposure’s mission is, “To promote a more inclusive and compassionate world for people with disabilities and genetic differences through photography, film, educational programs, and advocacy.”

DiSalvo Sr. said, “The photographer found out about Anthony and his art and asked him to be an ambassador. He was even in a photoshoot with one of his paintings titled, ‘Positive Exposure.’”

For the DiSalvo family, though there are some challenging days, life with Anthony is in one word—love.

Elizabeth DiSalvo said, “The happiness that Anthony gives to people, including us as parents, is unbelievable. The love you give to your child will ultimately make them blossom into amazing human beings. We’re just happy that through art, Anthony found his niche in this world and loves what he’s doing. We just hope that his story will inspire others and raise awareness about the potential of artists with disabilities.”

Anthony DiSalvo’s work is currently on display at Rockaway Roasters, (92-06 Rockaway Beach Blvd). His work can also be seen on Facebook page: Tony DiSalvo.