Community Art Night: Altoid Tin Wallets
On the evening of May 29th, Sequoia Cafe in Staten Island became something a little different. The tables were covered in decorative materials. Tin wallets waited to be transformed. And one by one, people walked through the door ready to make something.
Community Art Night was Shagara's first public event — a tin wallet upcycling workshop, a live performance, and a raffle, all wrapped into one evening of art, music, and connection on the North Shore of Staten Island.
We packed the room.
Shagara artist Anastasia led the workshop with warmth and precision, guiding guests through the process of turning simple metal tins into personal, one-of-a-kind trinket boxes. She was assisted throughout the night by Skye Nala, who made sure every guest felt supported and had everything they needed to create something beautiful.
In the corner of the cafe, Lillikhy played live acoustic music for the duration of the workshop — filling the space with exactly the kind of sound that makes people slow down and settle in. It was the kind of performance that makes a room feel safe.
By the end of the night, every table was covered in finished tins. Some were layered with ribbon and gems. Some were painted. Some were covered in stickers and mirrors. All of them were someone's — and every single one was made with intention.
We raffled off an Artist Starter Kit generously donated by Michaels. We heard laughter. We watched strangers become neighbors. And when the night ended, people asked when the next one is.
That question is the whole point.
Check out some recap posts on Instagram:
Email carrieann@shagara.co to request the workshop power point.
THANK YOU
Evenings like this don't happen alone. We are so grateful to:
Community Arts Commission — for donating all of the decorative materials that filled our tables
Kenny and Hub 17— for donating over 20 extra chairs and saving the night
Sequoia Cafe — for believing in events like this and opening your doors
Anastasia and Skye Nala — for leading the workshop and making every guest feel welcome
Lillikhy — for filling the room with live music all night long
Sam from Iridescent Pools — for providing the backline for our performer
Michaels — for donating a beautiful raffle basket of artist supplies
And to every person who bought a ticket, showed up, and made something — thank you for being part of the first chapter of Shagara.
