Salvage & Shine

05/24/2026

Thank you everyone who came out to the Schuyler Mansion to support the Albany NY Pinkster Festival!

05/23/2026

05/05/2026

Salvage & Shine will be popping up again at the Kingston, NY's Earth Fair! I look forward to serving you and I am bringing new pieces!

2026 is the year of AI. My shopping platform fed my art to two different AI systems so I will be parting ways with it. In the meantime, there will be no new product photos posted online. To see my new pieces, please visit my pop up shops which will be operating in NEW event locations. Let's shop and live Earth Day everyday!

04/17/2026

So happy to reunite with the bid to participate in its 2026 Earth Day Clean Up!

I will be bringing 50 gift bags of eco-conscious products for participants to try. This year the gift bags will contain an eco-friendly toothbrush, a biodegradable toothbrush cover, 1 reusable pill pouch containing 3 toothpaste capsules, 2 vinyl recycle stickers, and 2 biodegradable animal waste bags!

I will also host a pop up donation drop off site for anyone who wants to donate unwanted/broken jewelry and unwanted, gently used children's clothing and clothing accessories. These items will be repurposed at future Salvage & Shine projects and collaborations!

Last year, past donations were used to create my Aziza Wings that I exhibited at my first Eco-Conscious Aziza party - an environmental art and wellness party. Sign up and support this cause and I will bring my Aziza wings! I look forward to seeing you there!

03/22/2026

Happy to return to to vend with Shea Tree LLC at the Saratoga Sustainability Fair hosted by !!

Come join us Saturday, April 11, 2026! Be sure to stop by our table and support to local Black, women owned sustainable businesses! We look forward to serving you!

03/11/2026

In case, you missed it. At the Hannaford Supermarkets Kidz Expo, I offered an interactive performing art activity for the where the Kemet goddess Aset (Isis) performed by Simone Sprague showed children Kemetic poses and their meanings. The children were so excited (and adorable) as they learned each pose! The parents loved watching and photographing their children as they posed with Simone. There were so many adorable memories made that day. My heart is full!

As a wearable artist, it is an emotional experience to see someone perform in your art. The outfit was a labor of love and learning. I was happy to see Simone transform into a goddess who worked so well with the children! To learn more about my wearable art piece and my child performer, check out my latest blog article, "The Kemet Goddess Aset (Isis)" linked in the comments.

Special thanks to Empire State Plaza Events NYS OGS Convention & Cultural Event Office (Jason, Nick, and crew) for supporting my vision! You are the wind beneath my wings! Congratulations to Simone for being such a talented performer and an amazing leader. It was an honor watching you perform with the little ones!

03/04/2026

This Saturday, I will be hosting my interactive art experience called, "Welcome to Kemet where art pays!" In this experience, there will be six interactive art activities offered to 100 children. The fifth activity is called "Kemetic Poses" that will be hosted by child performer, Simone Sprague! In this activity you are welcome to bring your camera and learn kemetic poses often featured on hieroglyphs, tombs, and artwork. The pose featured in this photo meant presenting in Kemet (not surrender like it does now). In this section, you will learn about prop artifacts and can take pictures in front of two Kemetic themed photo backdrops. Also, Simone, my activity cohost, will be exhibiting the finished version of this wearable art costume - "The Kemetic Goddess Aset (Isis)." I look forward to meeting you and your little ones this Saturday at the Kidz Expo! Sincerely, Alessandra J. Payne dba Salvage & Shine

02/21/2026

I am currently on hiatus healing my hand injury this month so that on March 7th I can pop up to host the 2026 Kidz Expo craft activities.

This is a Salvage & Shine community interactive art exhibit called "Welcome To Kemet Where Art Pays." 100 creative children are invited to craft with me and my art friends on Saturday, March 7, 2026 from 10AM to 4PM as we curate 6 artistic crafting activities.

In this exhibit, you will learn about Kemet, create eco-conscious crafts using professional art tools, cartography (drawing maps), listen to African music, recreate a scarab heart amulet necklace called the "Scarab of Hatnefer." Hatnefer owned the amulet and she was Queen Hatshepsut's royal advisor.

This interactive art exhibit where children can learn and experience the artist's creative process and learn about Kemetic writing and history! This exhibit is designed for children 4-13 years old. Adult supervision is required. Children who complete 5 activities will be paid in candy!

02/06/2026

Promo reel: Sketches From the Edge of Flamenco is a hyper sensory improv play where Omonike Akinyemi covers emotional topics and themes from her lens as a Yoruba, Nigerian Flamenco Artist living in the USA!

In this clip from Sketch 3 "I Feel Pretty, Too, B*tch, an anxious flamenco dancer encounters her creepy neighbor and have an awkwardly pretty dance off. In the clip, you will see intense emotional shifts through dance where cognitive dissonance will be conveyed and temporarily liberated!

portrays a character who will show moments where they let their guard down and dismisses society's oppressive burdens and expectations to allow us to see their authentic, happiest self.

This sketch deals with intense emotional subject matter so viewer discretion is advised. On February 24 from 7-9pm, come to to see why Carlos "Khalid Gambino" is dancing flamenco in a dress!

For more information, visit: https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/imagequilt/sketches-from-the-edge-of-flamenco-1672764582

On-Stage performers featured in this clip: Omonike Akinyemi (principal flamenco performer), Carlos Walter Santana "Khalid Ghambino" (flamenco performer).

Sketches from the Edge of Flamenco is written and directed by Omonike Akinyemi of Image Quilt Productions. Reel narration by Alessandra Payne and Carlos Water Santana. Video clip by Alessandra Payne.

01/27/2026

Promo reel: Sketches From the Edge of Flamenco is a hyper sensory improv play where there are opportunities for guests to become part of the show!

In this clip, Omonike was pleasantly surprised when another Black Flamenco dancer joined in the sketch! Sophia Cazares' graceful performance elevated the show as she danced in tribute of Omonike. Sophia also invested in the show and supported two black woman owned businesses (Image Quilt Productions and Salvage & Shine) when she purchased her ticket and the yellow paper fan.

In this clip, you see sisterhood, love, respect, and support. So, come and be part of the show and join our movement! For more information, visit: https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/imagequilt/sketches-from-the-edge-of-flamenco-1672764582

On-Stage performers featured in this clip: Omonike Akinyemi (principal flamenco performer), Sophia Cazares (surpise guest flamenco performer), and Mounanou Badila (Djembe drummer).

Sletches from the Edge of Flamenco is written and directed by Omonike Akinyemi of Image Quilt Productions. Reel narration and video clip by Alessandra Payne.