Portrait of a young artist
BY CHRIS WYMAN
VERNON — On a wall in the lobby of the Vernon Township Board of Education Building - which is normally used to display the artwork of an entire class - the first solo exhibition of works created by Nick Cerrato is on display through June 28.
Cerrato, 15, of Barry Lakes, has cerebral palsy. He creates an eclectic mix of color prints using computer-generated illustrations and acrylic originals he paints with his feet. He also uses the wheels of his walker in his creations - suspending his body above the paper sheet - which becomes the canvas of his imagination.
Whether studying art with Marie Springer during a class at the Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge or at Glen Meadow Middle School under the direction of his mentor, art educator Suzanne Struble, Cerrato is committed to creativity in a variety of mediums.
Although most of his work is two-dimensional, he also works with clay. Although use of his hands is limited, when applying glaze to a piece he uses his teeth to hold the brush as he paints colorful patterns on ceramic vessels.
According to Struble, Cerrato (who has trouble speaking) chooses shades, pigments and tones that compliment each other, but in some cases he uses starkly contrasting colors that create bold interactions of shapes and stroke direction. He is also very precise in ensuring that each piece of floor art is signed using swirling patterns that he creates with his toes.
One of his computer-generated pieces - an image of a motorcycle - is on display at the Vernon Inn on Route 94. According to his fans and followers, Cerrato’s pieces, in particular his foot and walker series, have the potential to become highly collectable works.
Cerrato will be entering the ninth grade at Vernon Township High School in September and was recently recognized as the Vernon Township Public Schools Artist of the Month. To enjoy his creations, particularly with so many pieces together in a single show, visit the Vernon BOE building at 539 Route 515 in the heart of the Vernon Town Center.