Coming soon...

I have a group exhibition coming up with fellow German, Johanna Lancaster. Okay, sorry, this is only the half-truth....

Sorry to disappoint, but I am not German.

But I do appreciate Johanna's story; her longing to exist in an organic world. I understand this all too well. I want to be away from this place; this place "artificialized for human convenience". She's featured at Belcourt this month, follow the link:

Our Event:



December 10, 2011
Threesquared Gallery
427 Chestnut St. Studio 223, Nashville, TN 37203

the streets of the world

in search of enchanted and remote lands typically only reserved for the eyes of it's inhabitants, 

but now are captured on camera by the automated and aesthetically-neutered google street 

view cars that linger.  void of the main character (self-portrait) and an internal view, these images

represent the closing chapter of 4 years of cinemascapes with an external view of the world.

by aaron hobson

Come&Live!

A ministry from my home church.

As my pastor would say, "THESE GUYS ARE LEGIT!"

Chad Johnson and his crew are comitted to bringing the Kingsom wherever they are. I look up to these guys so much as an encouragment that people in America ARE striving for the Kingdom!

One of their bands Ascend The Hill has gotten me through many hard days. Their music radiates spirit and truth.

It was such an honor to be apart of making this tour happen. They did a fundraiser through kickstarter not to long ago and here is just a preview of things that happened:

C&L! New Zealand (The Story) Teaser from Come&Live! on Vimeo.

If you're ever looking for a good read, check out thier blog You can also get free music from their site. I recommend the Ember Days and Ascend The Hill!

Art Day!

Thursdays mark Pick a Pocket's traditional weekly event: ART DAY. This Thursday I decided to give Liz a little visit. This was the outcome of my visitation:




This is honestly a normal Thursday in the Manchenn household.

Nashville Help-Portrait 2010

Thanks to amazingly compassion artist Jeremy Cowart and his wife Sharon, every year thousands of poor families have the priviledge of getting prefessional portraits taken, hair and make-up done, a warm meal, and free health screenings from local doctors. Help portrait was started a year ago and has turned into a huge international event with helpers in Germany, Canada, Mexico, the US, and probably more.

This year I got the priviledge to work along side of some of Nashville's most giving and talented photgraphers.


photo courtesy chris honiball All rights reserved

I originally went to take clothes to drop off at the donation site and to see how everything was organized. I'd heard of Help Portrait a few months ago and had wanted to help in a anyway I can. As my friends and I were leaving we asked if they needed any help. After getting fed and filled with Starbucks I started assisting one of the photographers. I ended up staying for 5 hours editing and printing photos of families, single moms, a few guys in rehab, and even Jeremy's own son and daughter. We shot, edited, and printed on the spot and could even provide the families with frames and a free shipping service! The entire experience was a chance of a life time and I'm so thankful for all those who organized these events.

I wish I had some behind the scenes shots, but I forgot my camera! Of course....



It happens every Saturday after Thanksgiving so look for us next year!

We can't do this on our own

Who will rescue me from this body, not the arms, the fingers still?
Yes, they feel what they touch as well,
cut the cords.
Let the ancient Adam go.
I've been dancing with this corpse for nineteen years.

And when I said,
"Who will shave my head, and on the might, reveal me in my skin?"
All the secrets of fitness:
all the fitness He requires is to feel your need for Him.

In my room, in my room,
in this gospel I have made, salvation is a broken cistern in a handmade frame.
I cut the sheets into a flag, paint it red,
self-pity hangs over the doorway in.
From seven times seventy scraping knees,
blood lets, deficiencies,
these are the layers of bandages, protection from the sting.
In this great lacking,
I've found a way.

- anathallo

GO TEAM RHODES!

Sarah Rhodes is one of my favorite people and a former roomate at the IXTEEN (aka The Claire Houe). Besides her agonizing aversion over washing any dishes, I was so fortunate to be able to live with her to learn from, to share in creative ideas, and to talk to about boys, naturally. But like 3/4 of the other IXTEEN girls, she was swept away by a boy and has since married. Sarah and her husband Josh make up Team Rhodes. This creative duo can be blamed for numerous great promo and wedding photos throughout the south, as well as great fine art and design that you will probably see popping up more and more. Portland has taken their heart so they won't be around the south much longer, but if you get a chance to see these two in action, take it!

I recently was able to interview Sarah:

se // Who/what first inspired you to pursue photography?

sr + I was in Bible College thinking about ministry but not knowing what to do with my life, and thinking a degree in ministry seems silly unless you want to be a pastor. I'd always loved taking pictures with my point and shoot. My friend Mia enrolled in a photography school in PA, and looking at her photos was so magical and inspiring to me... and the Lord brought everything into place and directed me to which school to go to and everything!

se // What is your favorite thing to shoot? (people, places, etc)

sr + Definitely people! Nothing else is like shooting people.

se//What are your goals as an artist?

sr + That's a good question - I don't have any set goals (maybe I should!). And I also don't tend to see myself as an artist since all I like to do is capture what is already created, and already beautiful! My aim is that my photography conveys an enjoyment of life. Joy, Love, Hope, Honesty, and Contentment in who we are as people - these are the things that I really love to capture. And since this is my full-time job, another goal is just to make enough money to live! Let's be honest! :)

se // What do you want people to take away from your photography?
sr + I'd love for people to look at the photos I take of other people and be able to see proof of a loving and beautiful Creator. I'd love for people to know they are beautiful and they are loved by the Lord - made in the image of Christ.

se // Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

sr + Still working with my best friend in some way - if not photography maybe something fun and crafty... or traveling... either way, I'll still be taking pictures along the way.

se // Any crazy/fun/funny stories/experiences you could share about a photoshoot? (or just your NYC story i think that's my favorite hehe)

sr + Which NYC story? The one where the guy punched my camera? RIDICULOUS!
Well each photoshoot is so different but I feel like each one definitely has its challenges that you can't plan for. For example this past Saturday when we shot Jesse and Julia, my camera about 10 minutes in went crazy. The autofocus stopped working, the screen on the back stopped working, and I couldn't change anything like the white balance or anything. So basically I was shooting blind since my diopter was off (the wheel that adjusts to your eyesight). It was so crazy!! I was so stressed out and panicked, but we made it through and shot for 5 more hours like that. I just had to kick into "pretend I'm shooting film and also I'm blind" gear, and just uploaded images like every 10 minutes to make sure they looked ok. :)

se // Any advice you would give to an aspiring photographer? (ex. school, business, gear, etc)

sr +
1. Save money whenever you can.
2. Shoot Canon :)
3. You don't have to go to Brooks Institute to be a good photographer! I went to a community college and it was amazing, I was shocked. The education was awesome, the tuition was silly-cheap.
4. It helps to have your picture taken by a photographer friend whenever you can - you have to know how to be comfortable in front of the camera in order to make others feel comfortable in front of the camera!
5. Learn from other photographer friends - everyone does things differently, and it's fun to see and learn from each other's workflow.
6. Also if you are thinking about advertising, just see how far you can get with free advertising (being featured on different blogs, using the free vendor guide websites, using facebook and twitter). We made the mistake of shelling out a lot of money for advertising with a big wedding company, and haven't booked anything from it. We have gotten a zillion times more interest from being featured on blogs than we ever have from our paid advertisement!

se // Any last tips/post production secrets you'd like to share?

sr + I use a lot of Photoshop actions and then tweak them to how I like! Actions are a brilliant time-saver. I make a lot of actions for batch processing a ton of photos. Also, I try not to use artificial lighting if I can get away with it. Natural light is so beautiful, and even at noon on a sunny day you can find some shade. At most I use a reflector, unless we are doing a really swank and fancy photoshoot. :)

My favorite of her most recent photoshoots are of our other former saucy minx roomate Julia and her Husband Jesse. Julia has always been my favorite clogger :) Sarah, Julia, and I shared our love for coffee, Starbucks, and Cornerstone. Though I've always been quite concerned about their fascination with metal...





These cannot be experiences without Jesse's playlist. Scroll and listen along to see the full shoot: CHECK IT OUT!

Well, hot JAZZ!

Some of his first experiences in music came from the streets of Storyville - a legal red light district of New Orleans from 1897-1917. There, Louis Armstrong hauled coal through the streets passing by bands playing in the dance halls and brothels where his mother worked as a prostitute.



His very fortunate friendship with a Jewish family afforded him the opportunities to pursue his music career early in his childhood. The Karnofskys gave Armstrong odd jobs and nurtured him as a young boy. They also taught him "how to live—real life and determination."

Through passion, fury, questioning, and hope from his past, Armstrong gathered his inspiration for his music. It was his past which set his future up for success.

His story is definitely a rare one in the hard streets of poverty and racism but through certain circumstances, Armstrong rose up and out of his situations. It is people like the Karnofskys who really make change in this world. To learn more about thier non-profit visit the website: karnofsky.org

There is so much hope in the future generation of those under the oppression of poverty and injustice. He became one of the most influential musicians of his time and will forever bring joy to the ears and hearts of those who listen. Here's to you Louis....

Beans and Ricely yours,
Stephanie

Kelsey//PP Crew Posse #3

Kelsey is a roomate, a friend, a lover of unicorns, an artist, and an inspiration on so many levels



SE// What is your favorite part about being in PP?

K+ My favorite part about being in PP is the communal understanding that dance parties are a necessary part of a well-rounded day. Really though, life doesn't get much better than living all of your dreams in an exotic country with a group of people you adore. I'm encouraged daily that I can use ARTZ n' CRAFTZ to save the world and no one tells me I need to wear a business suit or ...ever.

SE// Why PP? Why not a PAYING job?

K+ The way I see it, PP pays me with good feelings. Ya know, the kind of feeling that I am being exactly who I was created to be. Although it would be nice to have some kind of legit monetary income, there's so much more to life than that and following money just isn't where it's at for me. I'm paid every day with most excellent adventures and a most excellent posse to share them with, aww.

SE// Favorite place traveled/why?

K+ My favorite place I've traveled would have to be Bardia, Nepal. Despite the electrocution and the near drowning experience, we got to ride elephants through the jungle and camp along a river-bed while rhinos loomed in the near distance. We were able to experience some of the world's most remote people groups and see what life is like on the other side of the Prime Meridian, definitely a solid adventure.


SE// People who inspire you (artists, authors, musicians, etc)

K+ Honestly, my friends coughStephanieEatherlycough are the most talented and inspiring people I can think of. Although my list of artists I am inspired by is ever changing, I'm currently awed by WIlliam Klein's unconventional approach to fashion photography, Anthony Burgess' obscure vocabulary and writing style,the audio fairy-tale vibe of "The Strangers" by St. Vincent, and nature...in general.

SE// Finally, 1 or 2 random/fun facts? Anything you want to tell the world?

K+ eek I don't know what to write here

SE// blog, facebook, twitter, email, flickr info

K+ facebook.com/kelsey.sloop
kelsey.sloop@gmail.com
flickr.com/basedonatruestory

some of her wok:

March featured Pick a Pocket crew member!

Meet Tiana!

SE//What is your favorite part about being in PP?

T + My favorite part is that I feel as if I'm living my dream. I have always wanted to do something like this, and I used to think it wasn't possible. But it seems like everything I am passionate about and love is combined into what Pick A Pocket is. It's a dream come true, honestly. I love it! And the people are amazing, as well. They make it easy.

SE//Why PP? Why not a PAYING job?

T + This is such a hard question. But if I don't get paid to do what I do, I am completely fine with that because I love what I do so much. I'd much prefer not getting paid in exchange for doing something I love, rather than getting paid to do something that I didn't feel fulfilled in doing.

SE// Favorite place traveled/why?

T + My favorite place is most definitely Afghanistan. I fell in love with it. Everything is so beautiful. The land, the people, the culture. I want to live there again someday. I love London as well. The love the eclectic and diverse atmosphere.


SE//People who inspire you (artists, authors, musicians, etc)

T + Music, film, and literature inspire me the most. But I guess to be more specific, my favorite band Shai Hulud is one of my biggest inspirations. Post Rock/Instrumental music, such as Yndi Halda, This Will Destroy You, and Caspian. Wes Anderson, Darren Aronofsky, David Sedaris, Mark Z. Danielewski, and Jonathan Safran Foer for filmmakers and authors. The list goes on!

SE//Finally, 1 or 2 random/fun facts?

T + I have weird obsessions with fonts and clouds. Also, I love kite flying after being able to do it while in Afghanistan.



Tiana would love to hear from you! You can also check out her blog:
Email: tianablas[at]gmail.com
Blog: tianablas.tumblr.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/tianablas

30 DAYS Challenge success!

We've raised over 300 Euro so far with our 30 Days Challenge! Last night was our first event on our German tour and we had a HUGE turnout (we'll it helps when you have a show at a huge castle where over 30 people live-but that's besides the point). A few of the pictures above are people who have done or are committed to doing 30 Days. Every single member of Pick a Pocket MUST do 30 Days as well. Over half the pictures are of my beautiful team members:)

We're working on showing this generation what it is like to live a little closer to poverty. For 30 days we challenge you not to pay for you own food, but rely on others to feed you (just like most of the world's poor does on a daily basis). After the 30 days you donate the money you WOULD HAVE spent on food and donate it directly to our projects. These projects include: Drawn From Water, Rahab Cafe, Garbage City, El Roi School, Rahab Second-hand shop, JK Girl's home, Mumbai Street Kids Ministry, Adoption Ministry of YWAM Ethiopia, Nepal Water Project, and Chittiwan Children's Home. It's so cool to see all these projects listed. I think it's the first time I've ever written them out :)

I hope you guys can join in on tour as we share more about these projects and show how YOU can do your 30 days! For more info send me a shout...

More pictures of last nights show including TRASHY HAIRCUTS coming soon!!!

art. prismzzzz. lines. oh my.

The sun is out and it's about time CREATE! I have a few works on the way, but until they are finished I will leave you with some of my favorite artists/inspirations.

Matt Moore


Stone and Honey


Misprinted Type // Alicia Waters

Hand-made goodness!

Hand-made things make me O so happy. Once I am done with the BOOK I can start focusing on my fine art and SEWING!

// side note: please send fabric! :) \\

I want to make these, but until I do please take a look at Dottie's store and blog! So cute!







Dottie Angel = :)

Featured Pick a Pocket member: Melody Wilson

Melody is only 19 and is a inspiration to me in so many ways. She has a huge heart for the needy, especially the women living in prostitution in Jinka, Ethiopia and Mumbai, India



SE//What is your favorite part about being in PP?
MW+ Being about to do what i've always wanted to do. Traveling, being an artist, meeting absolutely amazing people, and changing the world! Plus working with totally amazing people and having super fun times together!

SE//Why PP? Why not a PAYING job?
MW+ Ha ha i don't really know there's no real strategy to that decision, it's just how it worked out i guess.

SE// Favorite place traveled/why?
MW+ It's a toss up between three places. Mumbai, I love india! Jinka, Ethiopia, because of all the fun times i had there and how it feels like home every time i go back! and London just because it's a cool city with a nice atmosphere!


SE//People who inspire you (artists, authors, musicians, etc)
MW+ Jesus, Mother Theresa, Ghandi, Shane Claiborne, George Lucas, and anyone who isn't afraid to change the world.

SE//Finally, 1 or 2 random/fun facts?
MW+ I used to speak elvish. And i love Pokemon.

A few photos from her portfolio:









Please check out her blog: The Marvelous Misadventures of Melody!