CThru.com Presents Tony Ward

Artwork By Mikel Elam

Posted By Mikel Elam

I am getting sick and tired of the blatant attempt to undermine Barack Obama’s intelligence and leadership abilities. Basically he walked into a problem created by the previous administration. Everyone now expects him to solve every problem within one and a half years. I think it’s unfair and I know many will not be able to understand this next statement. Some of it is racially motivated. Probably coming from many who don’t think they are racist. It’s like the comment ,”I am not a racist, some of my best friends are black or latino etc, and yet these “friends” really aren’t so much in their lives.
The art represents Obama in a box. The box is getting smaller and smaller trying to squeeze the life out of him. People are taking shots at him. In this case it’s the splatter from paint balls.(I hope nothing worse ever happens) They take shots at him like comparing him to Hitler and calling him a communist, socialist……the list goes on.

Invisible One

So many forget he is a black and white president and he represents the face of real America in the 21st century. Not the confederate flag waving, wishing it would go back to the old days of whites getting to sit and Blacks standing in the back of the bus mentality.
Yes this country is in financial trouble. I am in financial trouble. So in fact I represent someone who should be angry with the status quo. However I recognize where the problems started and no one seems to be holding that person and their administration accountable for past actions.
Its an unfair practice. A selfish act of aggression without thought. Again this reminds me of the times when a person of color opened their mouth only to have a gun placed there to shut them up. Make them disappear.

Invisible Two

Recently I created a series of portraits .Men of color from around the world. I have entitled the series “Invisible” based somewhat on Ralph Ellison’s great novel,”The Invisible Man” who writes about living in a society where we co-exist with others who want us to stay away unless they need us for servitude.
Obama is a reminder to everyone we are not going back to the days of the settling fathers. And thankfully he is very visible.

Self Portrait With Handlebar Mustache

TW: When did you first realize you had a distinct eye for mens fashion?

KS: It began In High school, I was an Art Major, painter and sculptor. I wore black clothing covered in Gesso on purpose, very Jackson Pollock.

TW: Did the way your father dress for work and casual time impact your early view as to how men should approach the way they attire themselves?

KS: Yes my father dressed very well, he was a white collar man. This was the 70’s you had to look fly even for work. He also dressed for evening, Tux all the way. He is a 33 degree Mason so he had to come correct. He wore a wide variety of hats and cologne that made my eyes water, but he was always well groomed. He’s still a fly cat. Smooth like china silk. I love him for that.

Mississippi At the Crossroads: Photo By Kwaku Alston

TW: Who is your favorite menswear designer today?

KS: I like a bit of every one. I take designer sport coats and cut them below the pockets to crop the front of the jacket. I’ve just finished a Paul Smith sport coat. I’ll rock that today with Pink shoes. I’d also like to add, I only wear ROGER CHARLES NEW YORK, the shirt company I started with a partner in 2007.

TW: We met during the glory days at VIBE during the early 90’s…. How did your tenure there impact your approach to mens fashion as you moved forward with your career as fashion director for several other popular culture magazines, including DETAILS and GEAR?

KS: VIBE was my first real taste of artistic freedom. I could choose my calibrator’s like you my friend. We could test the boundaries of traditional American publishing, go on location and show beautiful nudes. The work was seamless in the context of VIBE. It allowed me to dream and make pictures I wanted to see in a magazine.

Mississippi: Photo By Kwaku Alston

TW: We have both shared the experience of working for the famous Guccione family. I for the father Bob senior. and you for the son Bob junior. What was it like to work for the son of the founder and publisher of Penthouse magazine?

KS: Bob junior is a true original thinker and thoughtful man. A great human being. I was lucky to be in his company and at all times I love him very much. When he writes his memoirs I’ll be first in line to buy the book. He has his place in the American history of publishing. SPIN Magazine stood alone as the voice of the late 70’s and early 80’s. It covered bands that couldn’t get arrested at the time. I could go on forever about Bob. I learned how to bring a product to market, communicate the vision and sell it to marketers. He had a great deal to do with who I am today.

TW: You are currently fashion director for ESPN the magazine. What is the most interesting fashion editorial you have published thus far?

KS: Every year we do a shoot called Kings For a Day. It features up and coming NFL Draft players. Young guys who enjoy the work I do. The other amazing shoot was with the Washington Capital Police posing as Secret Service agents protecting the President. It involved blue screen and great gray suits.

Photo By Albert Watson

Photo By Jody Ake

TW: What is your favorite mens fragrance?
KS: Tough one I have a very bad nose, due to years of allergies. I have worn Calvin Klein Obsession. I think I drained the bottle and never got a refill.
I may start to wear ODIN 04 as it is clean, light and natural.

Self Portrait With Beard

For Immediate Release

Posted By Jessica Moats

Introducing KONG Magazine

KONG Magazine is pleased to announce the launch of its inaugural issue on Friday, July 2, 2010. This bi-monthly magazine will be available both online and with a limited edition print version containing all the original artwork from the site. KONG Magazine is a sex and comedy publication that seeks to bring stimulating entertainment and art to women around the world.

Creative Director and Founder, Jessica Moats, uses her impressive background at publications such as New York-based Playgirl and BlackBook Magazines, to create a magazine that will fill the void in the current women’s interest market. KONG Magazine creates an interface were sexual interests coincide with cultural ones by offering the newest trends in music, art, foreplay, design, humor, comedy, politics, technical innovations (including vibrators and other sex gadgetry) and photography—the X-rated kind.

The first issue seamlessly blends the mission of KONG Magazine by entertaining, informing, and promoting collaborations between emerging artists and writers. Cover model, Greg Sestero of famed cult classic, The Room best exemplifies the magazines’ ability to effortlessly mix sex and comedy.

Please email press@kongmagazine.com for a press kit, interview requests, and additional information on the magazine or any of its subjects.

Chanel Ward: Masters Of Education

…….. As I entered the old stadium, it brought memories back of my childhood. My dad used to attend the Eagles games there and made countless hours of color video footage of the Penn relays during his film making days in the early 60’s. It was in those early movie frames, when my age was still in single digits that the majesty of the stadium became permanently embedded in my young psyche. Franklin Field as it was known then was one of the earliest examples of classic architecture that was innocently introduced to me by my father via his love of sports.

It wasn’t a sporting event that brought me there on this day.

It was the graduation of my daughter Chanel, with a Masters degree of Education about to be placed in her 22 year old hands. I looked all around trying to find the right place to prepare myself for the best possible photographic capture of this momentous occasion. I knew how important that moment was for Chanel, as well for all that have come to know and love her.

And then it came to me. I observed two large monitors, the kind you see at most sporting events these days, capture each student receiving that most important piece of paper, the diploma. I had a split second from the time her name was called to the moment I zeroed in on the huge screen, frame then trigger. It was a decisive moment that would be remembered for a life time, and I captured it! Congratulations to the Class of 2010.

T Govens

Posted by Gunsmoke

His name is T. Not Mr. T. Not T Bone. Just T. It might as well stand for Trainer, Toned, Tight, Trim or possibly even Terrific; because that’s what makes T something special. This personal trainer looks like an advertisement for a macho muscular magazine. But he’s so much more than mere appearances. Although his appearance is amazingly that of carved chocolate…beautifully carved chocolate to be sure.

“T” Thomas Govens is a native Philadelphian who left the area for a stint in California. Working a variety of jobs and seeing the world from Sunny Cal made him crave his roots. So he’s back in town. The trainer to the stars is now helping us ordinary people here in Philly get it together. Although his pecs and abs might imply only heavy duty basic training regime, he’s really sensitive to the needs of ordinary mortals. He understands the body and he’s in tune with what works. He can be seen at 7 am on a chilly morning putting his more energetic clients through squats and punches in Washington Square Park. Or, he might be in the home of a Rittenhouse Socialite pushing 60 with light weights and an intelligent workout that makes her look her Neiman Marcus best.

T says: “I love my job. It allows me to help people and to be creative in the process.”

He understands that it is not necessary to die an early death on exercise machines in order to maximize the body’s potential. This knowledge has allowed him to tailor training routines to the needs of the individual. It might be exercising in the park or using stairs and furniture in the home as aides to a great workout. He even tailored a training schedule to a frequent traveler by creating exercises that can be done in hotel rooms and in airport waiting areas. (So if you see a woman doing pushups on the steps, you’ll know T is behind it all.)

Making his clients’ look and feel their best is a personal goal. He leads by example. That’s obvious from his photo. His fierce physique belies his soft spoken manner. This is a first class gentleman who is making his mark on the Philly scene. See an amazing body; think of T. He’s probably the brains behind the beauty.

Jean Ward

……….On July 9, 2010 my mother will celebrate her 90th year. Happy Mother’s Day mom and to all the mother’s in the world!

Rehearsal

……….A candid moment is captured while adult film stars Bobi Starr and Mr. Pete rehearse their lines, as they prepare for their scene in TW’s latest film production for Private Media Group.

Bobbi Starr And Mr. Pete

Their attraction was real and very sensual, making the direction of these two masters at work an erotic feast for all the senses. More from their scene to follow in upcoming posts…..

The Photographer Part Two

……According to the script, after the team photos were taken, Kimberly was to select one of the guys to take solo shots for a men’s underwear campaign she was commissioned to produce. During the photo shoot, things got quickly out of hand between Ms. Kane and her handpicked model. As we were filming, it became self evident as to why Ms Kane was selected as AVN’s best actress for 2010.

Tyler Knight, Dennis Marti, Kimberly Kane, Mr. Pete, John Strong

……..One of these lucky guys would be cast to have sex with AVN best actress Kimberly Kane in TW’s most recent film production entitled, “PRIVATE WORLD CUP 2010 – FOOTBALLERS WIVES”. The studio was contracted by PRIVATE Media Group, Barcelona, Spain to produce the film in concert with the start of the 2010 FIFA WORLD CUP to begin on June 16th in South Africa.

Team Photo

Ms. Kane played the role of a commercial photographer, who was assigned to take photos of players from a European soccer club.

The Photographer

After the group photo was taken, Ms. Kane selected one of the player’s for a solo shoot. Who do you think she picked?

To be continued…….