Tonight, ArtNowSF presents the Juxtapoz Magazine issue release party at Club 6 in San Francisco. If the art and music alone won’t convince you to come, the fashion showcase sure will! This month’s party will be the biggest show yet, as 7 Bay Area designers will fuse their fashions together with art, music, and spoken word. Poet Ruby Veridiano-Ching, who was highlighted as a M.I.S.S. Woman Making History in November, will kick off the fusion fashion show at 10PM, so get your discounted presale tickets here and make sure to arrive early and party late.

Check out this list of designers:
Nicacelly (M.I.S.S. Women Making History last March!)
Homeygrown
Alchemetric
Hellagant
P.E.A.C.E.
Heathen
Kamileon Designs

Don’t sleep on this! Read the rest for more event info.

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After reading through every entry to her “Miss Universe” Contest Ruby Veridiano-Ching has selected a winner! Hailing from Florida State University, Marisa Munnings won a copy of Ruby’s book, “Miss Universe” and a pair of the exclusive earrings designed by Ruby herself, and created by the ladies of Made Jewelry. Here’s what Ruby had to say about selecting Marisa as the winner:

It was such a difficult choice to make because we had so many beautiful and poignant contest entries, but this one hit me the most. I felt like it was represented really well for the teenage female psyche, and definitely aligned with the sentiments and ideas I expressed in Miss Universe- Miss Universe is a testament for the female heart, thought, emotion, and strength, and I think this piece embodied that.

Thank-you to all that entered the contest! Read Marisa Munnings winning poem, entitled “Baby Girl” after the jump! Read the full story

You may remember about a month back we announced the release of Ruby Veridiano-Ching’s first published collection of poetry called Miss Universe.  If you haven’t gotten around to getting a copy (highly recommended!), then here’s your chance to win a copy of Miss Universe and the exclusive earrings designed by Ruby herself, and created by the ladies of Made Jewelry.  All you have to do is submit your own poem for a copy to win Miss Universe and the earrings.  The only requirement is that the poem cannot be longer than 1 page in length.  Ruby herself will read all the poems and choose the lucky winner.  Put those thinking caps on and get to writing!   All entries must be in by Sunday, December 21st, midnight PST.  Send your entries to misscrewcontest@gmail.com.  May the best poem win!

You’ve heard us go on and on about Ruby Veridiano Ching and now, if you’re in NY, you can see for yourself the dynamo that she, and her crew, ill-Literacy are.  They’re touring the U.S. right now and they’ll be in NYC at the Crash Mansion on Wednesday night.  This will be a great event to get some culture, have some fun and expand your mind.

Image by G Gallerie

I had the pleasure of meeting Ruby Veridiano Ching earlier this year and I was instantly impressed by her. She’s a co-founder, and only female member or spoken word collective ill-Literacy and she just published her first book of collected poems called Miss Universe. Her book is out of this world (pun intended) and you can read the review here and get the book here.  She also released an “intergalactic soundtrack” to go with the release of Miss Universe that you can listen to here.  We took some time to chat with Ruby about her writing and inspiration and this lady just does not stop!  Check out the full interview after the jump.

1. When did you start writing?

I started writing at 12, writing “nursery rhyme” type poems for my boy crushes- I remember writing one for the guy that played Rocky in “3 Ninjas.” Does anyone else remember that movie? Oh, and the Green Ranger too.
Then I took it a little more seriously during my senior year in high school, when I discovered Langston Hughes. I didn’t know until then the power of language, and the art of crafting words to look and sound beautiful; creating legacy in prose. Special thanks to my English teacher, Ms. Londahl! She’s my hero. She let me explore Langston Hughes in the back of the classroom while everyone else was doing their vocab exercises.

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As part of the release of her book, Miss Universe, Ruby Veridiano-Ching has put together a soundtrack for Miss Universe. The soundtrack includes songs that inspired her journey and healed her along the way as well a little commentary from Ruby through-out. From Kanye to Stevie Wonder the playlist really helps to create an even more vivid picture of Ruby’s world and that of Miss Universe. Join Imeem now and listen to the Intergalactic Soundtrack of one Miss Universe.

Stay posted for more info of Ruby’s book release party at Milk in SF on Oct. 26th! Peep the flyer after the jump!

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Cover Art by Fahamu Pecou

When I received the manuscript for Miss Universe, I was excited to read it because it’s been quite some time since I’ve read some poetry.  I found Ruby Veridiano-Ching’s collected writings inspiring and healing, with Ms. Veridiano-Ching showing a wisdom beyond her years.  She’s mother-figure, sister, best friend - all wrapped into one.  Ms. Veridiano-Ching speaks to all women, gives voice to their innermost thoughts, insecurities and vulnerabilities, and in sharing, she makes us realize we are not alone in our self-defeating thoughts.

Ruby Veridiano-Ching’s poems and writings cover a period of her life where she explores what it means to be a young, independent woman.  She writes about everything from love lost to racism, but in a casual approachable way.  Just because she writes poetry doesn’t mean that you won’t find a “hella” thrown in or references to pop culture.  I ran through her writings so quickly, completely absorbed in her words, at one moment near tears and the next letting out a big laugh.  Ruby has so much to say and so much to share and I think Miss Universe is definitely something you should treat your mind to.  Miss Universe releases later this month on October 26th, complete with a launch party at Milk in San Francisco.  Miss Universe is a multi-faceted project that includes it’s own “soundtrack” and Ruby even designed a pair of earrings with the ladies of Made Jewelry. Stay tuned with more news on the release and for pictures of the earrings!