Join Ruby City and poet Violeta Garza for a special National Poetry Month workshop exploring the art of slow looking and the creative possibilities it opens. Inspired by Daniel Rios Rodriguez’s painting Norma and other works on view as part of Open This Wall, participants will spend time observing artwork closely, reflecting on textures, symbols, and emotional resonance before moving into guided writing exercises. 

Violeta will share her own approach to ekphrastic poetry and support participants in developing personal, imaginative responses to the artwork. Through conversation, writing, and shared reflection, this workshop offers a meaningful way to connect with contemporary art and deepen your creative practice. 

All materials are provided. No prior writing experience is necessary. *Please note that this event is now at capacity. If you’d like to request being placed on the waiting list, please email amireles@rubycity.org.

This workshop is part of Ruby City’s participation in National Poetry Month San Antonio and complements the annual Ekphrastic Poetry Contest. 

Join CAUSA for an evening of networking & conversation with San Antonio civic leaders, District 1 Councilwoman Dr. Sukh Kaur & Director of Arts & Culture, City of San Antonio, Krystal Jones.  

This event is free and open to all.  

Culture and Arts United for San Antonio (CAUSA) was founded in March 2020 when it became clear that San Antonio’s arts and culture organizations had to band together to advocate for the sustainability and play a leading role in healing our community. After joining together and establishing our 501c3 nonprofit, CAUSA looks forward to the future with optimism as we embody and propel the DNA of San Antonio, serve the entire community and beyond, generate economic vibrancy, inspire generations, and provide unparalleled education programs. 

CAUSA connects the value of arts and culture for San Antonio’s economic and cultural vibrancy and its people. 

Ruby City presents a two-hour immersive, interdisciplinary evening presented in celebration of Contemporary Art Month, with live creative coding and projections by Diego Chavez, a featured performance choreographed by Violeta De Leon Davila, and music by DJ Jevonchi. 

Guests are invited to bring folding chairs or picnic blankets and enjoy an evening under the stars.  

This event is free and open to all. Registration is requested but not required. 

Join us every third Sunday of the month for a restorative, hour-long meditation session led by seasoned practitioner Pamela Martinez. Held outdoors in the tranquil setting of Chris Park, each session offers a variety of mindfulness techniques and begins with a gentle introduction, perfect for both first-time and experienced meditators alike.

Please dress comfortably for outdoor weather and bring a mat or cushion for sitting.

Free and open to all. Registration is recommended but not required.

Ruby City & Trinity University KRTU’s partnership continues with a special installment of Music in the Park featuring José Amador and Terra Nova at Chris Park. 

Guests are invited to bring folding chairs or picnic blankets and enjoy an evening of live music under the stars. Complimentary light bites and drinks will be provided. 

This event is free and open to all. Registration is not required. 

José Amador & Terra Nova is led by Puerto Rican–born percussionist and bandleader José Amador and is known for its vibrant blend of Latin jazz, salsa, and Afro-Cuban rhythms. The ensemble brings fresh energy to jazz traditions through dynamic Latin arrangements of classic works by artists such as Dizzy Gillespie, Horace Silver, and Herbie Hancock, alongside original compositions. Based in San Antonio, José Amador & Terra Nova are celebrated for their high-energy performances, rich percussion work, and deep connection to Latin musical traditions. 

Ruby City welcomes writer, art critic, and podcaster Ben Luke for a special evening talk exploring the ideas behind his new book, What is Art For? Contemporary Artists on Their Inspirations, Influences and Disciplines. Known for his writing for The Art Newspaper and for hosting the podcasts The Week in Art and A Brush With, Ben Luke examines creative processes, artistic lineages, and the questions that drive contemporary art today. 

Through reflections drawn from conversations with artists across the globe, Luke discusses the roles of inspiration, discipline, and curiosity in shaping artistic practice, and how these ideas resonate within today’s cultural landscape. 

Guests are also invited to continue the weekend’s conversations at the San Antonio Book Festival the following afternoon, where Ben Luke will be joined by South Texas author Stephanie Elizondo Griest, discussing her new book Art Above Everything. Their conversation will be moderated by Ruby City Director, Elyse A. Gonzales. 

This event is free and open to all. Registration is requested but not required. 

Join us every third Sunday of the month for a restorative, hour-long meditation session led by a seasoned practitioner. Held outdoors in the tranquil setting of Chris Park, each session offers a variety of mindfulness techniques and begins with a gentle introduction, perfect for both first-time and experienced meditators alike.

Please dress comfortably for outdoor weather and bring a mat or cushion for sitting.

Free and open to all. Registration is recommended but not required.

Ruby City is proud to partner with National Poetry Month San Antonio for the annual Ekphrastic Poetry Contest, culminating in a public Celebration Reading at the McNay Art Museum. Winning poets will read their original poems inspired by Norma (2019), a painting by Daniel Rios Rodriguez from his exhibition Open This Wall, currently on view in Studio at Chris Park.

Ekphrastic poetry responds to works of visual art, exploring how an artwork moves, challenges, or inspires the writer. The contest is open to San Antonio and South Texas poets, with categories for adults and youth.

Poets interested in participating can visit the Ruby City website to learn more about submission guidelines and how to enter the contest between February 4 and March 4, 2026. Selected poems will be featured online and shared throughout April in celebration of National Poetry Month.