ABI Alum Joel Garza Opens Seaside Gems Gallery This First Friday

We love watching our artists grow, and this Friday is a proud one. Former ABI resident artist Joel Garza is opening his own gallery, Seaside Gems, in the Plaza art district on South Padre Island. The doors open Friday, November 6, during First Friday.

Joel is a silversmith who makes customized, one-of-a-kind jewelry in sterling silver with semiprecious stones: necklaces, rings and earrings. His pieces take their inspiration from the island itself, from shells to the shoreline, and many can be customized to honor a bond, celebrate love or keep someone close.

Joel was an ABI resident artist in the class of 2024-25, and Seaside Gems pieces have been on view at our gallery. He has also shared his craft with our community through hands-on jewelry workshops at ABI, where guests stamped their own silver rings and set their favorite stones.

Opening a gallery of his own is exactly what the Art Business Incubator exists for. Our residency gives emerging artists studio space, gallery space, stipends and business training so they can build sustainable art businesses right here on the island. Seeing an alum open his own space in the Plaza art district shows what that support can grow into.

Make Joel’s opening part of your First Friday. Stop by Seaside Gems at 2500 Padre Blvd., Suite 5, South Padre Island, TX 78597, to congratulate him and find a handmade piece for yourself or someone you love, then keep the night going around the island’s art scene.

Follow Seaside Gems on Instagram and TikTok (@seaside_gems) for new pieces.

Thank You for Making AURA 2026 an Unforgettable Night

On Saturday, October 3, the Art Business Incubator South Padre Island opened its doors for AURA, our annual fundraiser, and our community showed up in a big way. Thank you to every guest, artist, musician and supporter who helped make the night so special.

AURA invited guests to step inside the creative worlds of our resident artists and alumni. Throughout the evening, each artist built their own immersive Realm, with its own atmosphere, artwork and experience inspired by the senses:

1. Maya Hardnett, Sacred

2. Enrique Palacios, Natural Instinct

3. Nadia Garber, Storyland

4. Karina M. Torres, Saturation

5. Alyssa Bono, Allure

6. Valerie Enriquez, Galactic Woodland

7. April Doyal, Surrealist

8. Malia Quinn, Resonance

Guests moved from Realm to Realm while enjoying live art, food, wine and live music from John Gattas and Mario Aleman. VIP guests arrived at 6:00 PM for an early look, and general admission ran from 7:30 to 9:00 PM, all here at the gallery at 2500 Padre Blvd., Suite 1.

Events like AURA are what keep our residency running. Every year, five to six emerging artists join the ABI program and receive free studio and gallery space, a supplies stipend, a monthly stipend and business training, at no cost to them. Your ticket or your simple presence at AURA helps us lower the barriers for local artists building real businesses on the island.

We’d also like to thank our sponsors and partners, including Cactus Flower Interiors, which sold tickets for the event.

If you missed AURA, there are still plenty of ways to be part of the story. Stop by the gallery to see work by our resident artists, sign up for a class, or make a gift to support next year’s artists.

ABI South Padre Art Business Incubator is a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization.