Inside a boutique venue and content studio, creatives come together to showcase art pieces and network with the Austin community. At the creative mixer, Jewls and Gems vendors line up to provide their services and talents to guests welcomed by the creative director and founder, Jewlian Emerson.
The upcoming Jewls and Gems mixer will be held on June 25 at the Mira Mira Venue on East 6th Street. With a natural elements theme, the event encourages guests to wear outfits inspired by either fire, water, air or earth. The lineup for vendors and entertainers includes a fire dancer and several visual art installations, with tickets costing $11.99.
“I would love Jewls and Gems to be a spot where you vend for the first time or you create a set for the first time,” Emerson said. “This being the opening or gateway to your bigger creative future is a beautiful thing. That’s the whole point.”
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After being a part of Austin Tea Party, an Austin-based fashion show, Emerson found inspiration for the networking mixer through South by Southwest. Starting out as a model after moving to Austin in 2023, Emerson wanted to create a space for all creatives to come and connect through their art.
“We were in this huge warehouse where (Austin Tea Party was) hosting their fashion shows, and every corner just had the coolest artists there,” Emerson said. “I was just so inspired by the space we were (in) and all of the different creatives.”
Emerson prides herself on bringing artists together through this event. She finds these artists through personal connections, social media and anyone who knows the name “Jewls and Gems.”
“It’s people that I’ve formed actual connections with,” Emerson said. “For this next one … we’re just seeing how meshing the different artists and communities vibe. If I’m inspired by someone, then that’s obviously someone that I want to bring into the event.”
One of these artists is artist, model and friend of Emerson, Zoe Spain. The two met when Emerson moved to Austin. Both discovered the warehouse that inspired the creation of Jewls and Gems at the same time. Her first time at the event, Spain showcased her art, which allowed her to branch out from modeling as her main career.
“I always get super giddy (during the) days to come (before Jewls and Gems),” Spain said. “I’m most excited about seeing it all come to fruition. That’s just what art’s all about: having nothing (and) turning it into something.”
The upcoming Jewls and Gems event follows the one-year anniversary of the first event in May. Among the crowd stood speech pathology sophomore Shreya Nampoothiri. After her first time at Jewls and Gems, Nampoothiri said she feels excited to meet new people and discuss the updated art installations.
“It was a strong creative outlet for (artists who have) a lot to say,” Nampoothiri said. “No matter what it was saying, (their art) came off very powerful and easy to be open to. It was a nice social environment where a lot of people with different creative minds were able to appreciate what was being shown.”
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