Spice of Life: Georgio Sabino III By:Maria Gatmaytan

Spice of Life: Georgio Sabino III By: Maria Gatmaytan

The Greek orator and politician Demosthenes once said “Small opportunities are often the beginning of great enterprises”. More than 500 years later, who would have thought that artist Georgio Sabino III (GS3) would be fulfilling these very words.

If variety is the spice of life, then GS3 is the hottest spice you will find among the artists of New York City and Cleveland’s cultural scene. Variety and versatility is what distinguishes this 42-year-old from the average painter, photographer or designer. Sabino engages in all media to expose his keen eye to rare raw beauty.

www.shorturl.at/axM

As an artist following his passion, he spends every minute of his waking life making opportunities and experiences happen such as photographing the 44^th inauguration of President-elect Barrack Obama.

Georgio Sabino III is a fashion designer, photographer and professional artist of multi-media. As the second youngest of 10 children, Sabino began drawing and painting since the age of five years old. “As I reminisce, it’s been my pleasure to receive family influences” said Sabino.

His early influences were shaped, in part, by the musical and artistic preferences of other family members, the works of M.C. Escher and Mondrian, along with his involvement in the 1980’s world of punk rock (including the early years of the Cure, the Smith and Bauhaus) and Hip Hop like U.F.T.O, Grand Master Flash & Melle Mel, and Run DMC,

Skateboarding culture and “all that childhood stuff you grow up with, that stays with you, y’know…especially the music” shaped his views about art and broadened his exposure to various cultures, ideas and other ways of looking at the world. By 7th grade, Sabino knew that he wanted to pursue the visual and textile arts as a career.

A 1999 graduate of Kent State University, Sabino’s bachelor of fine arts degree is specialized in fashion design and sculpture. He also gained additional training at the Cleveland Institute of Art and through a variety of life experiences, commonly known across the board as the school of hard knocks. But currently GS3 is one semester away from graduating from Case Western Reserve University Art Education program. “Its been an enlightening experience, to want to educate the new (art) minds of tomorrow, but a passionate struggle to gain the pedagogic wisdom to serve the community.”

An eclectic artist of painting, photography and fashion, Sabino remains unlimited by the conventional approach of singular mastery in only one of the creative arts, and instead chooses to work with diverse media. His goals, although idealistic to some, appear attainable to him. “I want my own skyscrapers,” he casually stated when asked to what extent he would like his art to advance.

“Personally, I don’t see why you have to limit yourself to one thing in the arts. If you believe and trust in your art, you can apply it in your life in so many ways. For example, in medicine I learned that there was a need to redesign a fabric that could be used in hospitals, that was both absorbent of fluids on the outside and able to repel liquid on the inside,” he said to illustrate his point.

“I relate everything to the way I think, behave and how I use the canvas. I like working with silk because it has that quality of being very soft to [the] touch. It’s what people [clients] want to feel next to their skin…” he says.

Armed with an ambitious spirit and entrepreneurial drive, Sabino established “Soul Fire” a fashion boutique in Soho, New York, which specialized in couture wear; before moving to Cleveland to attend graduate school at Case Western Reserve University, where he will pursue a master’s degree in art education.

In sharing his love of the arts, Sabino already has taught courses at the Cleveland School of the Arts, the Virginia Marti College of Fashion Design and Ursuline College. He also conducts private instruction in the visual arts, consultation in fashion and photography, and is available for guest lectures. “I would love to have the level of sophistication obtain to teach,” he noted.

“My palette, to me, is not just [about] what I want to do, but also how to advance and/or put it into its next level. For example, an artist and a doctor share a common goal – to help people who need healing. My world is the elements and principles of art such as colors shapes, and space. If I can spark someone’s day by producing a great color to enhance, a beautiful picture you created, or adding something nice to a person’s vision in conversation [view/seggestion of art], then why not share your view with the world” said Sabino.

His work has been in the Puck building in Soho, New York, as well as in Secaucus, New Jersey as one of the designers in the 1999 fashion show by New Day Associates. His work has been seen throughout Greater Cleveland in venues such as Sankofa Fine Arts Plus Show June 2004-2006, Artefino “Dog” Show and coming up the City Artists at Work gallery hop, (www.cityartistsatwork.com). . Check out the Art-show in May 15, 2009 at the GS3 Art Gallery otherwise call for an appointment www.GS3.us or online at:

http://www.cityartistsatwork.com/pdshow05/pdshowgallery2.htm

Most notable among his photography accomplishments were Former President Bill Clinton and President Elect Barrack Obama at Strawbridge Lawn, Cleveland Ohio 2008, National Black Arts Festival & International Soul Summit, Atlanta, Georgia, and the Sugar Water Tour and Concerts for Gammy winning vocalists Jill Scott, Queen Latifah, and Erykah Badu.

His photography has appeared in Smithsonian Associate, Essence and motivational speaker George Fraser’s Success Guide Worldwide magazines as well as George Fraser’s book Success Runs in Our People. Locally, he was an inductee in the 40/40 club Sponsored by Kaleidoscope Magazine & Ritz Carlton besides having his work published in Ebony Magazine, City News, the Sun Press, Urban Dialect magazine, CoolCleveland.com and Agustofineart.com GS3 loved judging the Congressional District Arts Competition for U.S. Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs-Jones, April 2003-06.

Because his work is play, “I’m working all the time,” he stated. His combination of creating art, networking, marketing and sales, is balanced by maintaining tight family relationships and his other interests in music, travel and dance.

“I really want to become known as a fashion and corporate photographer but I am a painter of textiles / canvas – silks and fabrics. I’ll go wherever my art takes me. I have freedom in my art to be able to enjoy the photography, fashion design, and the painting.”

If art mimics life, then Georgio Sabino III is just like his generational predecessor, contemporary artist and author Stephen Nachmanovitch, wose philosophy is: “Creative work is play. It is free speculation using materials of one’s chosen form.” Except in this case, Sabino does not limit himself to only one chosen form of media within the visual arts.

East 19^th and Superior is a block away from photographer and professional artist of multimedia, Georgio Sabino. He uses different mediums on materials, such as silk, canvas, and vinyl. He as photographed the likes of Lebron James, Jay-Z (in concert), and he is George Fraser’s official photographer along with contacts in corporate America.

His work has been featured at Cleveland State University’s Art Gallery for the “ X-Africa” art exhibit. He has also photographed the dedication of the Howard A. Mims African American Cultural Center in January 2004 where Spike Lee and Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs-Jones were in attendance. He is currently scheduling his works of art with. In addition he is producing a book called “Artists @ 1900” #2 it is all about the artists at the Tower Press Building and their works of art. Plus more. It can be purchased online at Artistsat1900.com or direct link:

http://www.photoreflect.com/PR3/orderpage.aspx?pi=09J40004000000&po=0&hp=2

When he takes pictures, there is a beauty in how he captures the moment of the model, client or his environment “ I carry a camera wherever I go, ready at any time to take a photograph” said Sabino.

In choosing GS3, “the people who have selected my services have recognized how their full potential is achieved through my art, which reflects their best assets. I am also working with a great team of colleagues who help make every detail happen just right for everyone,” states Sabino. Other members of his group include: cosmetic artist Jason Kelly; wardrobe stylist Tawanah Key of Suiturself; hair designers Chanelle Truitt; and photographers Aaron C. Smith, Edric Morales, Bern Webb and Amanda Duffy, Brooklyn Smith, Richard Durrah and Christopher Yoshito.

Now he is working with more artists and the community to work together for a local idea. Cleveland, keep your eyes open to help support the arts with them. With the entrepreneurial spirit of a shrewd businessman, combined with his skills as an artist, GS3 brings a fresh perspective to the notion of fashion, photography and visual arts. With an artist of this caliber at arms reach, why sit in anywhere with the same style. Georgio Sabino III is the absolute answer to individuality. Try something inspiring; experience GS3.

By Maria Gatmaytan