CThru.com Presents Tony Ward

Portrait Of The Artist

….We first learned about the photographic portraiture of Stephanie Vovas through our left coast corespondent Ed Simmons, who recently wrote a piece for us about the pending opening of LA LIVE in Los Angeles. Ms. Vovas produced the portraits of Mr. Simmon’s for the post. We liked them so much here at the studio that we asked Ed to introduce us to more of her work. We were pleasantly surprised. She has an uncanny knack for enhancing the effect’s of the still image, through her choice of subject, lighting, color and treatment of the final image. The images feel like “film stills” from a movie set production, reminiscent of Cindy Sherman’s early self portraits, but with a contemporary twist. Here is a sampling of her creativity at work. To see more, log on to www.stephanievovas.com…………

www.StephanieVovas.com

BIO
Stephanie Vovas first picked up a camera as a young girl growing up in Springfield, MA in the 70’s and has been hooked ever since. She loves to shoot. She’s been known to squeal out in joy when she gets the image just right.
Despite this passion, it never led her to think photography was something to pursue as a career, and so after high school she simply experienced life. She moved to San Francisco, traveled throughout Europe, and then took a very long cross country drive which led to living in several random locations, often as a result of running out of gas. She worked in a retirement home in Denver, CO, was an environmental activist at Redwood Summer in Northern California, and when she found herself in Reno, Nevada working as a change girl with a giant sign on her back that said “Change”, it was in this moment that she realized it was time to change. She decided to pursue her passion for photography and went back to the East Coast to study at the Maine Photographic Workshops.

www.StephanieVovas.com

After school, love brought her to Portland, Oregon where she worked in a camera store, saw lots of live bands, and immersed herself in the mid-90’s art scene. She started experimenting with Polaroid films and processes, which led to a unique and highly stylistic body of work. She co-created a gallery called Barcalounge, where she exhibited her own work and curated shows of other artists. Miniature handmade booklets were made for every show, which eventually led to a full size art magazine.
Stephanie grew restless in Portland and moved to L.A. to take her photography to the next level. L.A. brought a few gigs assisting photographers, some camera store work, and a graphic design career. Photography took the backburner, until she enrolled in a photo course at The Art Center. Stephanie is now shooting regularly and just had her first solo exhibit in Los Angeles. Her work has become more fashion oriented after teaming up with celebrity hair stylist, Aviva Perea, and make-up artist, Stephen Bowman.

www.StephanieVovas.com

From the Portland Polaroids to today’s vivid digital images, her style has evolved and changed, yet there is a similar feeling that pervades through all her images…the same sort of feeling one gets when listening to groovy 70’s music. A shoot with Stephanie is a wildly fun, yet very intimate party. Fellow students at Art Center often questioned what her tricks are…from “How did you get this person naked?” to “How did you get the colors that way?”

www.StephanieVovas.com

www.StephanieVovas.com

Jasmin St. Claire

….Former adult film star Jasmin St. Claire once held the world record for number of sex acts in a 24-hour period with 300 men, eclipsing the previous record held by another legend in the industry, Annabel Chong. The coordination and production of these psychologically complex adult films propelled Saint Claire to “skin flick” stardom making her a frequent guest and household name on the Howard Stern show. She’s an articulate, highly intelligent businesswoman who left the financial services industry on Wall street for the bright lights of the adult film industry in Hollywood.

St. Claire subsequently picked up roles in non-pornographic independent films, appearing in a number of straight to DVD movies: Blood! Broads! And Brawls and Recipe For Disaster. She had a brief stint in ECW (Extrerme Championship Wrestling) after learning the ropes by training with former boyfriend Brian Heffron (former ECW star “The Blue Meanie”). She is currently associated with another professional wrestling organization, NWA Cyberspace, where she continues to utilize her business wits and savvy as the organizations commissioner……

www.JasminStClaire.com

Artwork Courtesy TKP Creative Group

……The posthumous documentary “This Is It” debut at the movie theaters in the past week raked in over $100,000, 000.00 in revenue. To bad that Michael Jackson is no longer with us to witness yet another one of his creative and financial achievements. We asked guest blogger, Racquel Ward to write about her impressions of the film. Art work for this post courtesy of TKP Creative Group. To learn more about TKP log on to www.tkpcreativegroup.com.

MJ By Artist Rah Crawford

Racquel Ward; “In light of his death, which was illuminated around the world, it was no surprise to me when I first heard of a Michael Jackson movie that was to be released in theaters everywhere, especially since I’ve studied culture and media at the New School University in New York. It is “my job” as a trend conscious viewer of pop culture events to predict social cultural clichés.

The movie title “This Is It” both subtly and overtly hinted at the sudden end of MJ’s existence on Earth, suggested that the movie would present that “one last moment” we all wanted to see. I was once again disheartened by the commodification of a tragedy in our media driven, sensationalist society. However, the MJ fan in me was extremely excited to see him on the big screen again, AND in concert, which I had been too young to do when he was actively performing while he was alive.

While pondering whether or not to see the movie, I quickly remembered that in order to find happiness and solitude in this possible exploitation of a great legend, I must put my criticisms aside and enjoy the silver lining. With that said, ‘This Is It’ was fabulous and satisfying! I got to see what I always knew was there; it was Michael’s spirit, energy and unprecedented talented which was captured beautifully in the documentary style movie.

Seeing Michael interact with his dancers, musicians and creative direction was a once in a lifetime, never expected dream come true. Still, we must ask ‘Is This It?” Will there be another film or album capitalizing off of Michael’s death. Sure, but who cares. Although I still have my doubts about the intention of the film and the borderline creepy social implications its production reflects, I’m glad it was made and will be added to the invaluable access we as a world have into MICHAEL.”

www.HistoryStartsNow.info

….The studio was recently invited to attend a charity event to raise awareness of the international scourge of sex trafficking of children, to be held in Philadelphia at the Salt Art Gallery, on November 14th, 2009. Ms. Kristin Huggins, a former student of Temple University is part of a group of young women who volunteer their time and energy to raise funds to thwart this growing international problem. Kristin took some time out of her busy schedule to answer a few questions about the cause for our readership.

TW: How did you become involved in History Starts Now?

KH: The movie Traffic brought this issue to the center of my conscience, and when I heard about the charity, History Starts Now. They put out a casting call for models to walk in their Fashion Gives Back yearly event.  They ended up needing me for more volunteering, and I signed up to help organize their events. History Starts Now’s focus is twofold: spreading awareness of the enormity and horror of this crime, and raising money to fight this problem legally. We feel that the most effective way to stop sexual slavery is through the legal system. Very few buyers are successfully prosecuted. Less than ten percent of all arrests related to this crime are the clients, and over 61 percent of cases pursued are thrown out of court. Until the demand for underage prostitutes is curtailed, our nation’s children are at risk. One organization we work with on these issues is Redlight Children’s Campaign, which is headed by attorney, NYU professor, and Priority Films founder, Guy Jacobson. While people often hear of these crimes occurring in Southeast Asia, Columbia, and Eastern Europe, the media often overlooks how many American kids are victimized each year. History Starts Now’s primary focus is American children.

TW: I hear about it all the time in the news these days, which likely make’s the issue more like a pandemic, it’s spreading across many borders.

KH: According to Unicef, over 2 million children and young women are implicated worldwide in sex trafficking. Interpol considers this to be the third largest international criminal activity, but other groups feel it is second only to drug trafficking. Estimates on the revenue generated vary widely, as so much goes untracked. Anywhere from 9 to 20 billion is generated each year from sex trafficking.

TW: What is the age range of the victims of this type of crime? 

KH: In America, the average age of entry is 12 to 14 years old. Victims under 10 are less common but definitely exist within our own country’s borders. According to a study by Shared Hope International,  the average age of entry correlates to the average age of runaways. The most common form of underage prostitution is survival sex; the victim feels compelled to perform sexual acts for food, shelter, or some other “necessity.”  One Nevada treatment center discovered that roughly 30% of the victims they encountered were originally pimped by a family member. A 2006 Shared Hope International report financed by the U.S. Department of Justice proclaimed that incest was a training ground for underage prostitutes; some agencies claimed over 70% of all child prostitutes they encountered were sexually abused. Over 90% were supposedly physically abused.

TW: Which criminal element or organized crime group is at the head of the trafficking or are there a number of groups in the US and abroad?

KH: There is no singular crime entity at the root of this industry. There are many. In America, gangs often connect with female runaways, systematically hooking young women on drugs, while offering them “protection.”  When they feel their victims are dependent on them, they force these young women to prostitute themselves in exchange for drugs and “protection.” 
The pimp model is common. Their handlers often have a dozen adolescents that they manage, relying on a network of fellow pimps and facilitators to make their operations feasible and profitable.  Sex traffickers communicate to each other, letting each other know where they can sell without police interference. Facilitators include taxi drivers that direct customers to the location of victims, government and law enforcement officials that create, sustain, and enlarge loopholes, making these crimes profitable, and online websites that encourage pedophilia fantasies, harvesting the next generation of customers, often directing them to in-person stimuli.
Another significant trend  in this dark industry is moving the “merchandise” off the streets, making use of the Internets cloak of anonymity.Children are circulated through circuits, usually specific truck stops, hotels, and motels that have been scoped out. Facilitators help to connect potential customers to the pimps, thus preventing crackdowns by local law enforcement. Minors in group homes and foster care are targeted, often being lured in by an older boyfriend/friend promising love and affection.

TW: Does the crime impact primarily females or males as well?

KH: American boys are also victimized in this industry.  In the book, For Money or Love: Boy Prostitution in America, Robert Lloyd estimated that 300,000 boys are being trafficked right now in America. Referred to as chickens, they have similar profiles as their female counterparts, including a history of incest, mental, and physical abuse. While they are usually in “gay” capitals. it isn’t unheard of in small towns.

Sexual abuse plays a huge role in creating boy prostitutes. On average, their first sexual experience, typically with an older male partner, is at 9.6 years old. Most enter the business after running away, feeling conflicted over their supposed sexual identity, and unable to turn to their parents for guidance. Sadly, about half of these boys are thrown out for their “sexual identity”, when in fact, they were usually coerced into their initial encounters by sexual predators.

The Tribute To Harvey Finkle

……We reported a couple of weeks ago that the Bread & Roses Community Fund of Philadelphia paid tribute to the documentary photographs of Harvey Finkle at the Constitution Center of Philadelphia. For those who are not familiar with the center, it is located on Independence Mall, the same place where Presidential candidate Barack Obama gave his famous speech about race in America in 2008, during his run for the presidency.

The upper floor of the marvelous new facility was turned into an art gallery and celebration for the extraordinary commitment Harvey has made to the downtrodden and unfortunate in our society. Eighty photographs were on display and well over 1000 people attended the events of that memorable evening. One of the highlights was a spoken word/rap presentation by Mr. Tim Dowlin. We asked Tim if he would give us permission to publish his especially crafted words for the special tribute to Harvey…….

Project Home

Tim Dowlin;
I try to capture moments with the pen/ just like he does with the lens/ 

He’s a man of principle, he seems invincible/ yet he blends in so well, he’s invisible/ 

Moving through the crowd/ you know he’s got a vision/ 

We chant loud, and stand proud/ its no decision/ 

Cause for us to protest against death is the same as living/   

I ain’t kidding/ situations that I been in/ 

Got me and Harvey on a world tour/ 

Stop the war/ and the war on the poor/ 

Economic Human Rights is what we fighting for/  

Together we’ve seen some great places/ in this great nation/ but its no vacation/ 

Taking the Documentation of the Violations/ to the United Nations/  

We all agree without hesitation/ the greatest task that we facing/  

Is to BREAK UP- and WAKE UP- and SHAKE UP- the complacent/  

OK, OK, I know its a Tribute to Change/ I ain’t mean to change the tribute/  

This is just how I contribute/ from the food distribution center/ 

I’m a take it back to the National Constitution Center/ 

I’m a practice my First and speak freely/  

Harvey has seen me/ since I was a teenager/  

Yeah I was a minor now it seems major/  

Ever since I was a Urban Nomad/ with no pad/ crib or apartment/ 

No food to keep the dudes ribs apart wit/ the right attitude to start wit/   

Harvey taught me how to develop a negative into a positive picture.

From The Deaf Blind Series

www.HarveyFinkle.com

Self Portrait By Alejandra Guerrero

…..The studio is happy to announce that Alejandra Guerrero, a photographer we have recently featured, has been invited to participate in the publication of The Mammoth Book of Erotic Photography, Carlton Books, London in 2010. We have asked guest blogger Mikel Elam to comment about her self portrait or “selfy” entitled, “Faded”, Los Angeles, 2006……

Mikel Elam; “There is an other worldly quality to the self portrait of Alejandra Guerrero. A woman caught between two dimensions. The transference of energy has resulted in an interesting aura of colors intermixed with mist like shadows. As she stares into the camera, the self portrait is very telling of a woman confronting something or someone.”

www.Alt-Er-Ego.com

Is Race An Issue?

…..As a follow up to our story about Lexington Steele recently, the studio received a number of email comments in reference to the post. One of them prompted a response. The reader of the blog commented, “I’m sure no one has had occasion to find fault with any of the intriguing photos you post on Facebook, including those that violate the Facebook policy of No Nudity. When my wife and I look at our Facebook pages at home, our daughter is often nearby, I had a bit of trouble explaining to a 5 year old why there was a picture of a dark man with no clothes on. When it comes to full frontal shots, please dial it back a bit.”

We asked guest bloggers, Mikel Elam, Yoko Grosshans and Atomic Bombshell to read the email and offer comments in response…….
Mikel Elam; “The reaction is probably especially reflective of the thoughts of at least 70% of Americans. It’s not my view point on nudity and sex. This is why we are a country full of rapist’s, murderers and depravity. People are repressed because of religion and false ideals about the self. This person would have probably reacted differently if it was a white woman in the nude. He could explain that better to his wife and daughter and justify it in his own mind.

I think it’s the Black genitalia which is threatening in so many ways. He doesn’t want his daughter to see it for several reasons. He is upset because your subject probably scares him. After all his wife could be attracted to him or compare him to Lexington Steele. It could be many reasons.

Actually, his daughter is the one who could view it with the least outward opinion. Children have less prejudices to sexuality, color and alternative lifestyles at a young age.”

I hate to believe that in 2009 the Mandingo Syndrome is still underlying so many issues and because it is so entrenched in our culture, people don’t even understand why they have those selective reactions. A man of color with a large penis is very threatening. He might as well have a gun. It inspires the same kind of fear.”

Yoko Grosshans; “The comment that was expressed to the studio to “dial it back a bit” was not only offensive, but hypocritical. More dubious is the concept that a 5 year old child would even be allowed to be exposed to a site which is known by viewers to contain material that may be deemed inappropriate. I also question why a nude woman is more acceptable and well received than a “big dark man with no clothes on”.

Atomic Bombshell; “He’s obviously offended in some way. Even so, he could have SIMPLY said FYI, you are breaking Facebook rules.”

…….The studio welcomes your participation, suggestions and comments………………..

The Art of Corset Making

…..The art of corset making has been around for hundreds of years. The word “corset” came in to general use in the English language in 1785. In fashion, the corset is generally used to trim the waist in an effort to enhance the bust and hips. The best fitting corsets are generally made by a corsetmaker, especially fitted for the individual who is wearing it.

Delicious Corsets

Psydde Delicious and Amy Schmitz founded Delicious Corsets in 1995. Both graduates of Philadelphia’s College of Textiles and Science where they studied fashion and textile design. They applied their education and talent to an exciting and successful made to order corset making enterprise, now in it’s 15th year.
If your in to the art of corset making, the studio highly recommends that you learn more about their offerings at www.deliciouscorsets.com……..

Isabella Reneaux

…..The beautiful 19 year old contacted the studio via email about a year before we got a chance to meet her. It was a rainy day in New York. TW agreed to meet her for lunch at Balthazaar in SOHO. He was impressed by her bravado, street smarts and a desire to make money as a fashion model in the big city. While growing up in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Isabella dreamed of becoming a professional model.

Petite Reneaux

Because of her stunning looks and perfect proportions , photographers began to take notice. That enabled her to build a respectable body of work, which led to a variety of fashion assignments, including turns on the runway during fashion week.

Isabella began receiving requests from photograhers to model in the nude. She was not adverse to the idea and ultimately contacted the studio to arrange for a sitting with TW, naturally he was interested.

Isabella, Sunset Marquis, Los Angeles

After lunch they agreed to the parameters of the shoot. Isabella considers herself more of a striptease model and had no desire to show pink, preferring instead to leave something to the viewer’s imagination. Although petite, she knew how to pose in a way to highlight her most formidable physical asset, her natural shapely breasts. Because of her perfect proportions and shapely legs, Isabella quickly became this studio’s favorite petite model……

Reuben Harley

…..The man who brought in huge sales as marketing director for Philadelphia’s Mitchell and Ness Sporting Goods store by introducing throwback jerseys to numerous celebrities including P. Diddy, Alan Iverson and various other stars, will be collaborating with the studio on a series of fashion shoot’s for this blog in the near future. Big Reub as he is referred to by friends, is also busy consulting with leaders in the fashion industry in his search to establish the next big fashion trend. Recently, Reuben met with representatives of Wolford, the Austrian marketer and manufacturer of fine hosiery and lingerie for women at their New York offices to discuss a campaign to increase awareness of the brand in the U.S. market.

He has set aside a $500.00 pair of Zac Posen/Wolford hosiery for the first shoot. We have been looking forward to collaborating with Mr. Harley for some time. The time has arrived……stay tuned……!