Explore Creative Journey

Aurekis L. DiSalvatore is a veteran NYC Visual Arts Educator with over 22 years teaching experience in the Bronx, NY. She specializes in Secondary Art Education and has been a dedicated instructor with FDAA since 2006. She has a Bachelor's Degree in Fine Arts from Adelphi University and a Master's Degree in Art Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. Most recently, in May 2022 she was awarded the Al Isaac Memorial Scholarship from The Salvadori Center for her outstanding contributions as a collaborating teacher, enthusiastic interest in the built environment, and her commitment to student learning. She is currently a cooperating teacher for the Art & Art Education Program at Teachers College hosting field observers wishing to become future art teachers. At FDAA she works with our newest scholars focusing on the fundamentals of art and design, with a deep dive into drawing, refining basic skills and helping each student find the confidence and determination to reach their full potential.

Robert Casilla was born in Jersey City, New Jersey to parents from Puerto Rico.
His formal training in art took place at the School of Visual Arts in New York City where he earned a BFA degree.
Since 1984, Robert has worked as a freelance illustrator for magazines, book publishers, postage
stamps, educational publishers and others.
He has illustrated over 45 children's books, many of which are picture book biographies of people such as Martin Luther King, Jr., Jackie Robinson, Rosa Parks and John F. Kennedy. He has also illustrated many multicultural children's books such as Jalapeno Bagels, The Little Painter of Sabana Grande, The Legend of Mexicatl and First Day in Grapes which won the Pura Belpré Honor Award.

Robert has also written and illustrated Mariano’s First Glove/ El Premer Guante de Mariano

Robert lives and works from his home in New Fairfield, Connecticut with his wife Carmen and 3 little dogs

When Ying-Hwa was little, like many children who love art, she drew on everything she could get her hands on, text books, napkins, homework sheets, and much more. Since she couldn’t stop drawing, it only made sense that she should study art and become an illustrator. After having illustrated more than 50 books and winning many awards, working solo sometimes as well as collaborating (other times) with her husband, Cornelius Van Wright, she is still loving it. She lives with her husband in New York City.

Cornelius Van Wright has worked in advertising doing retail ads, storyboards, and national commercials.  He then pivoted to his true dreams of becoming an Illustrator. Since then, he has become an award-winning children’s book Illustrator/Author and an art instructor at the Fred Dolan Art Academy. He has been with the Dolan Academy for over twelve years. 

Along with his wife Ying-Hwa Hu,(also an Author/Illustrator), they work with High School students helping them to prepare for college portfolio auditions. They also help Junior High School students prepare to audition for NYC High Schools in the Arts.