‘Torquato Says, Love Is … All Around at Paliskates’

By LILY TINOCO | Assistant Editor

Artist Michael Torquato deNicola brought his art to Paliskates beginning Thursday, February 2, for a special show and exhibit that will run through March 19.

A Southern California native, deNicola shared that he has many ties to the Palisades. With grandparents who lived in Castellammare, he said he would spend his summers with them—enjoying both the beach and their company.

“My grandmother was a school teacher, she taught third and fourth grade at Canyon for years,” deNicola said to the Palisadian-Post. “There was a lot of arts and crafts, and some of my early inspiration came from her.”

DeNicola explained that his art show in the Palisades is “100% full circle.”

The show—“Torquato Says, Love Is … All Around at Paliskates”—showcases his original art, which incorporates his collection of the LA Times’ “Love Is” cartoon-series that he accumulated with his grandmother.

“We used to have a ritual: We would meet for morning coffee, go through the LA Times and cut out the cartoons,” deNicola explained. “We collected them, and sent them to family and friends and neighbors, and that became a ritual over a couple of decades. We had stacks of them.”

DeNicola said since his grandmother died approximately eight years ago, he began using the cartoon panels as backgrounds for paintings.

“They’re heartfelt and heartwarming, and taking those little nuances of love and blowing them up … seemed really timely, both for my own personal history and things that are going on in my life now,” he said. “It seemed totally appropriate to show them in Paliskates … From morning coffee with my grandma, to time passing by and coming back and having created a body of work over a decade, and showing this body of work right back in the hometown where they were initially collected.”

Those who drop by Paliskates will also see deNicola’s original character “Torquato” featured in his art. DeNicola explained that Torquato is 17 years old now, and a “positive mantra” that has evolved throughout his life and career.

“He came about actually, kind of by accident,” deNicola said with a laugh. “It was just something that resonated, it was a happy accident, then I assigned some meaning to it … and then I gave him a name.”

DeNicola explained that his middle name is Torquato and, growing up, was admittedly embarrassed by its uniqueness. The name traces back to his Italian roots, but had no definition. He learned of an Italian poet Torquato Tasso who was from the same hometown of his Italian family, and couldn’t shake the questions: What is Torquato? What does it mean?

“And so I created the definition for my Torquato character,” he said. “Torquato represents the action hero inside each of us who says, ‘Yes, you can.’ Whenever you’re faced with a challenge, he’s that little guy who says, ‘You got this.’ So with that being the definition in mind, he’s kind of grown over the years into something that’s out in the world and has a life of its own.”

Torquato has traversed the globe: deNicola said Torquato has been seen in Silver Lake, Europe, South America and across the world—through art shows and stickers people have left behind.

“He’s out living a life, and it puts a smile on my face that people are embracing and slapping him around,” deNicola said. “I’ll visit places and see Torquato stickers, it just feels really cool.”

DeNicola—who was also a professional surfer—said Torquato can be seen on his personal surfboards, and he is always happy to tag him on others’ surfboards and skateboards.

Community members are encouraged to bring their boards to an event slated for Saturday, February 18, at Paliskates for deNicola to tag Torquato on them.

“He adds some color and some spice and … positive energy to keeping the kids stoked,” deNicola said to the Post.

For more information, visit iamtorquato.com.