Photo Credit by Robert Banks
With a Dash of Flair… Georgio Sabino III, Art, Education, and the Power of Telling Our Own Stories
The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) has long stood as a national and international yardstick for excellence in storytelling, truth-telling, and cultural accountability. Inspired by the NABJ Convention and Career Fair ethos, the “With a Dash of Flair . . .” project—developed in collaboration with the Cleveland Public Library (CPL), The People’s University, and Cleveland Digital—centers Black journalists, artists, historians, and cultural workers whose lived experiences shape Cleveland’s past, present, and future.
At the heart of this installment is Georgio Sabino III, an American artist, educator, photographer, and cultural documentarian, interviewed by Dr. Regennia N. Williams, Associate Curator of African American Community Partnerships, Programs, and Traveling Exhibitions and Distinguished Scholar of African American History and Culture at the Cleveland History Center of the Western Reserve Historical Society. The project was captured by Catherine Young, Cleveland Public Library Videographer, whose visual storytelling anchors the interview in both scholarship and accessibility.
(Video link included here in article)
As Dr. Nathan Carter once stated,
“I measure my work by what I think is a national, an international, yardstick.”
That philosophy resonates deeply throughout Sabino’s story—an artistic journey that refuses to play small, echoing the words of President Nelson Mandela:
“There is no passion to be found playing small— in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.”
Knowing Early: Art as Calling, Not a Hobby
Georgio Sabino III knew early—as early as 7th grade at Dominion Middle School—that he was an artist. This clarity was not accidental; it was instinctual. Art was not something he discovered later in life—it was something he recognized in himself.
His high school years were formative and complex. He spent some of his most joyful early years in Columbus at Whetstone High School, before relocating to Findlay High School, a move that proved unexpectedly transformative. Findlay offered one of the most comprehensive secondary arts programs in the region—spanning fashion design, interior design, jewelry making, alongside rigorous foundations in drawing, painting, ceramics, and design. That exposure reinforced Sabino’s belief that art was not only expressive—it was structural, intellectual, and professional.
Education as Foundation: Kent State, CWRU, and CIA
Sabino earned his Bachelor of Arts from Kent State University, an institution with deep historical ties to activism, design, and cultural inquiry. He later completed a dual master’s degree through a collaborative program between Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) and the Cleveland Institute of Art (CIA), focusing on Art Education.
His academic and professional work converged in a powerful body of work titled “Educational Genocide,” a series that critically examines systemic inequities in education—particularly how curriculum gaps, resource deprivation, and cultural erasure disproportionately impact Black and marginalized communities. The work is both visual and conceptual, combining research, symbolism, and lived experience.
As Jean-Michel Basquiat once asserted:
“Art is how we decorate space; music is how we decorate time.”
Sabino’s work does both—occupying space with intention while marking time with truth.
6’x6′ Oil Painting by Georgio Sabino III
From Fabric to Fashion: New York, SoulFire, and Early Recognition
For a brief but influential period, Sabino and business partner Richard Johnson II lived in New York City, where his clothing and designs were housed at SoulFire, a creative space curated by Lisa and Charles Woodward. During college, he hand-painted silk fabrics for fashion courses and showcased his work in fashion shows across New York and New Jersey—a period he describes as exciting, experimental, and formative.
These experiences expanded his understanding of art as interdisciplinary—where fine art, fashion, performance, and community intersect.
Returning to Cleveland: Tower Press and a City Buzzing
After returning to Cleveland, Sabino became part of a historic moment in the city’s arts revival. Under Mayor Michael R. White, he was among 20 artists awarded funding connected to a multi-million-dollar initiative to reinvigorate Cleveland’s cultural economy at Tower Press. The building became a creative epicenter, drawing tourists and residents every weekend.
Among the standout artists in the space were Hector Vega, Kathy Skerritt, and Bruce Conforti—figures whose work helped define the era. The city buzzed with exhibitions, conversations, and commerce—proof that investment in the arts yields cultural and economic returns.
Picking Up the Camera: A Self-Taught Evolution
It was during this Cleveland renaissance that Sabino picked up a camera, teaching himself photography from the ground up. While art was innate, photography required technical mastery—timing, light, shutter speed, and aperture—skills he layered onto his deep understanding of composition, already honed through painting and design.
Influenced by John Isaac of National Geographic and guided by mentorship and friendship from Bern Webb, Sabino set a bold goal early: to shoot as if every image were a magazine cover. That discipline led to publication in iconic outlets such as JET and Ebony, and eventually to touring nationally with Grammy Award–winning artists.
History in Motion: Sports, the White House, and Presidential Recognition
Sabino’s lens later captured historic sports moments, including the Ohio State Buckeyes’ first College Football Playoff National Championship (2015) and the Cleveland Cavaliers’ NBA Championship (2016)—both teams later honored at the White House.
In a defining moment, Sabino directly asked the Obama Administration for access, stating:
“I am a small business, but I want to cover this big story.”
The request was granted—twice.
President Barack Obama personally signed Sabino’s artwork, recognizing his documentation of Obama’s journey from U.S. Senator through two presidential terms. Sabino has since published this body of work online, preserving it as both art and historical record.
A Global Artist, A Local Responsibility
From photographing fashion in Paris, to traveling and working in Tanzania, Sabino’s career spans continents—but remains grounded in community. As contemporary artist Kehinde Wiley has stated:
“The question is not who is allowed to speak, but who is believed.”
Projects like “With a Dash of Flair…” answer that question by centering Black voices as authorities of their own narratives.
Watch, Reflect, and Engage
There is far more to Georgio Sabino III’s story than one article can hold. This interview is an invitation—to watch, to listen, and to engage with the living history of Cleveland through journalism, art, and education.
Watch the interview. Share your thoughts. Join the conversation.
GS3 — An American Artist.
Right: Tom Cahill, Aggie Gund of the Gund Foundation, Left: Georgio Sabino at the Studio in a school 45th Gala in New York City.
Here is the movie The Joy of Arts Education: 45 Years of Studio in a School. Georgio has a movie to come out later from his reflection.