The Unflinching Eye: Works of the Tiberino Family Circle at the African American Museum in Philadelphia

The Unflinching Eye: Works of the Tiberino Family Circle at the African American Museum in Philadelphia

Ellen Powell Tiberino, Woman in Bed, pencil on paper, 22″ x 15″, The Unflinching Eye: Works of the Tiberino Family Circle at the African American Museum in Philadelphia

“Trained at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, family matriarch Ellen Powell Tiberino – who passed away in 1992 – was one of Philadelphia’s most prominent and prolific artists, whose depictions of the world captured the pain and beauty of the human existence. She was once quoted in a 1988 interview as saying, ‘I paint life, and life is not always beautiful.’ Tiberino was an unapologetic artist who forced the viewer to examine what was moving in the ordinary.” – African American Museum in Philadelphia press release.

As you enter The Unflinching Eye: Works of the Tiberino Family Circle at the African American Museum in Philadelphia the first group of artworks are those by or about Ellen Powell Tiberino’s artwork, her life and ultimately her death. An incredibly beautiful woman imbued with talent and personality she is still honored and well loved by the Philadelphia art community. The drawings and paintings created by her are incredibly moving not just because of her artistic talent with line, form and color but her tenacity to endure the pain of life burdened with cancer and still create works even while confined to bed. The statement on the wall near her artwork says. “Doctors pronounced her near death several times during the course of her long illness and their treatments left her debilitated and scarred.”

The drawings are evocative and beautiful, expressing the humbling experience of life’s decline with powerful mark-making even though her condition was weak. Her earlier paintings are vibrant, large and expressive presenting her training as a fine artist in a worldly and modern sensibility that maintains a contemporary vibrancy and liveness. Frankly, it was hard to hold back the tears, knowing that such talent and vivacity was cut short. But the tears turn to happiness as I realized the accomplishment was not just artistic but humanistic because the show presents the artwork of her husband Joseph and her children. The idea of the nuclear family flows like electrons around the galleries as the extraordinary talents of her progeny unfold throughout the museum. In the modern world families seem to drift apart but the Tiberino’s are tight-knit, supportive and represent the American Dream in a real, authentic, passionate manner that is inspiring and beautiful.

“Established in October 16, 1999 The Ellen Powell Tiberino Memorial Museum celebrates the life and career of this renowned Philadelphia Artist. The complex includes a common courtyard decorated with sculptures and permanent murals. The Tiberino Museum encourages artistic awareness and a love of community and spirit.

The Ellen Powell Tiberino Memorial Museum,3819 Hamilton St., Philadelphia, Pa 19104, 215.386.3784. The Museum is open Saturday & Sundays 12noon – 5pm or by appointment, a donation of $5.00 is requested.” – Tiberino Museum website

Ellen Powell Tiberino, The Unflinching Eye: Works of the Tiberino Family Circle at the African American Museum in Philadelphia

“In 1959, as one of the first black women awarded the Cresson Traveling Scholarship, she traveled to Europe to advance her studies. In 1977 Tiberino was the first artist to have a one-person exhibition at the African American Museum in Philadelphia. Ellen Powell Tiberino created learning environments in the artistic spaces around her and served as a cornerstone of the Philadelphia arts community.” – museum statement

Ellen Powell Tiberino, Flower Painting, oil on canvas, 43″ x 39″, The Unflinching Eye: Works of the Tiberino Family Circle at the African American Museum in Philadelphia

Joseph Tiberino, Ellen and Death, oil paint, 60″ x 60″, The Unflinching Eye: Works of the Tiberino Family Circle at the African American Museum in Philadelphia

Ellen and Death exemplifies the theme of the art exhibit, the unflinching eye, as a metaphor for the passages of life. In the large format painting, the Tiberino patriarch faces the suffering and loss of his beautiful wife in a work of art that will stand the tests of time and symbolizes the emotional turmoils of the passages of life we all must stare in the face. Without looking away, Joseph Tiberino discovered the beauty in death, the emotion in paint, the fascination of un-healing scars and the hopefulness of life ever after. Father, son and holy spirit gathers the suffering beauty in their arms in a rapturous moment captured forever.

The elder Tiberino is not just a great artist, he’s is such a cool Dad! He embraces everyone he meets with a firm handshake, a grasp of the shoulder and a complimentary conversation. At first I was a bit intimidated by the quirky guy with the long ponytail and bowler hat but now I know he treats all people with respect and looks out for you, just as he’s done for his family.

“The Tiberino Family – Ellen, Joseph, Raphael, Ellen (daughtet) and Gabe – has been creating art in their Powellton Village neighborhood for over half a century. Ellen Tiberino and her husband Joseph worked in a variety of mediums: drawing, oil and watercolor painting, mixed media murals and mosaics. Taking up the baton passed to then from their parents, daughter Ellen Tiberino works in ceramics and stained glass, while son Raphael Tiberino desribes his work as figurative impressionistic. Additionally, Gabriele Tiberino has created several works for the City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program.” – African American Museum in Philadelphia press release.

Joseph Tiberino, Joe and Picasso, print with pencil and paint, 24″ x 36″. The Unflinching Eye: Works of the Tiberino Family Circle at the African American Museum in Philadelphia

Ellen Tiberino, stained glass, The Unflinching Eye: Works of the Tiberino Family Circle at the African American Museum in Philadelphia

“As a child I always worked at home as an artist and attended class at Fleisher Art Memorial. I had in my youth always shied away from becoming an Artist not wanting to be part of the family business. In the last ten, fifteen years I really became inspired and have developed into quite an artist. A big part of the inspiration was discovering my medium. I really enjoy working with glass, the whole process is a very soothing, almost religious, experience for me.” – Ellen Tiberino artist statement.

In the halls of the museum the stained glass and ceramics glow under the lights like cathedral windows. Kids and adults alike are drawn to the artwork maybe because of the spiritual element or because creating stained glass art has an element of risk and fascinating danger. Everyone wants to make stained glass but no one really wants to get cut by shards. The room featuring Ellen Tiberino‘s glistening creations is attractive and transcendent with nature elements, spiritual memes and rich, deep color. Imagine being a girl growing up in a house full of talented boys and being intimidated but Ellen found her medium and security in brotherly love..

Ellen Tiberino, mixed media with stained glass, The Unflinching Eye: Works of the Tiberino Family Circle at the African American Museum in Philadelphia

Syd Torchio, Portrait of Ellen, oil on canvas, stained glass frame, The Unflinching Eye: Works of the Tiberino Family Circle at the African American Museum in Philadelphia.

As part of the circle of friends of the Tiborino family, Syd Torchio has developed an intriguing, unique style all his own. Being surrounded by art and artists at the Tiberino ‘compaound’ in Powellton Village has created an energetic, urgent vibe to his work that is immediately recognizable as his own style. Imagine having the beautiful Ellen pose languidly with her unflinching eye on you as paint knowing that the model knows full well that she is an odalisque for the ages. Syd’s sensuous portrait possesses an immediacy and fervor that astonishes the eye and thrills the spirit.

Raphael Tiberino, This Isn’t Going to End Well, oil on canvas, 28″ x 22″.The Unflinching Eye: Works of the Tiberino Family Circle at the African American Museum in Philadelphia

This Isn’t Going to End Well is probably the most talked about paintng in the exhibition. Situated along with ink drawing cartoon panels, the painting does tell a dark joke but with dramatic flair and emotional intensity. I observed visitors drawing their friends over to the painting to share in the drama, nervous laughs and giggles erupt as the tale of betrayal, lies, sex and intoxication unfolds like a movie. Raphael’s paintings are expressionistic and thoughtfully composed, often with a dark narrative about the foibles of men, the mysteries of life and death and the consequences of mistakes.

“Raphael Tiberino began painting at the age of four. The style of his latest work can be traced back to his love of comics as a child. After graduating from the High School of Creative Arts with a fine art major, he continued his mother’s legacy and graduated from the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in 1991.” – Raphael Tiberino artist bio.

Raphael Tiberino, Jesus and Lucifer, oil paint on plywood, 48″ x 96″. The Unflinching Eye: Works of the Tiberino Family Circle at the African American Museum in Philadelphia

Gabe Tiberino, Between Jupiter and Jesus, oil on canvas, 48″ x 24″,The Unflinching Eye: Works of the Tiberino Family Circle at the African American Museum in Philadelphia

Gabe Tiberino, The Unflinching Eye: Works of the Tiberino Family Circle at the African American Museum in Philadelphia

“Gabe Tiborino gives us visual images, in acrylic and oil paint, journalizing street experiences, thoughts, emotions and projected dreams. He retains the freshness of direct observation. Reflecting his interest in rendering art in a more public way, all his paintings are concerned with people, especially locals, and dealing with art as part of the real world. Clarity is his virtue.” – Gabe Tiberino artist statement

Gabe Tiberino, The Unflinching Eye: Works of the Tiberino Family Circle at the African American Museum in Philadelphia

I find the atmospheric naturalism of Gabe Tiberino’s artwork to be some of the finest representations of the school of Philadelphia art. Obviously influenced by PAFA artists, Gabe utilizes traditional painting techniques to create his own vision of the world. Even though he’s the youngest brother, his art reflects a maturity and astonishing visual acuity found in the paintings of great masters like Eakins or Sargent. The artwork is painterly, yet his descriptive lines, assured color ways and depth of field are masterful and filled with detail. The sense of time and space is revelatory with a clear eye, strong brushwork and alluring attention to detail. Gabe is already considered one of Philadelphia’s great artists with multiple awards and commissions, But the elements of his style aren’t just in his art, his life is full of good friends who he encourages and cheers on just as his parents did for him.

“Build a good name. Keep your name clean. Don’t make compromises, don’t worry about making a bunch of money or being successful – be concerned with doing good work and make the right choices and protect your work. And if you build a good name, eventually, that name will be its own currency.” – patti smith