Alright, Motif readers, it’s time we got to the bottom of the burning question we all ask ourselves once the 5th month of the year comes around — what’s the best holiday in May? At first you might think, what holidays are even in May? But quickly after that, you realize that there’s a whole […]
Umberto Crenca, one of PVD’s best known artists and the retired cofounder of renowned arts non-profit AS220 took the time to catch up with us about his current series of works, Divine Providence. Crenca began his new collection of works in early 2020. Divine Providence pays homage to the streets and sights of the city […]
Shortly before an array of computer printouts and hand-written notes announcing business closures and curbside pickup policies presented a kind of collective commentary on COVID-19 along North Main Street, somebody spray painted a plea on an undeveloped lot near Rhode Island School of Design’s administration building: “PUT SOME ART ON THIS WALL!” For months, the […]
Motif had the opportunity to speak with PVD-based artist, Nick Paciorek, known for his local and international landscapes, paintings that use big strokes of vivid color to create lively tones and atmosphere. Originally from Chicago, Paciorek has lived in RI for decades and currently creates art at The Pitcher-Goff house in Pawtucket: Luke Taylor (Motif): […]
Finely painted bowls. Rugged and misshapen mugs. Decorative vases. All ceramic art, yet all unique. “Ceramics as a medium is very versatile, you can literally materialize almost any artistic idea using a ceramic discipline,” says Luke Chen of Three Wheel Studio in PVD. Ceramics provides him with an art form that is not only artistically […]
After speaking with Charna Ethier, owner of the Providence Perfume Co in Pawtucket, Motif learned that music and perfume have more in common than we realized. Making great perfume can be like music for your nostrils, with intonations and layers that unravel one whiff at a time. “Perfumery is a mysterious art, but when you […]
Hot. Glowing. Molten glass illuminates the glassblower’s studio as they risk high temperatures and defy the laws of physics for their art. “Glassblowing creates not just an object, but a spiritual connection to the object. It is a relationship,” says Benny Giguere, a glassblower and instructor at Gather Glass in PVD. There is more than […]
When walking down Sims Ave in PVD, it is nearly impossible to miss The Steel Yard in all of its metal art glory. “It’s much more than just hammering,” says Elsa Hoffman, an artist resident at industrial art space. Not only do they provide a safe and dependable space for their artists, but they also […]
A woman on stilts, letting her nipple tassles swing through the air, walking to the powerful beat of a full band of over 20 percussionists. A fire dancer, spinning, twirling and throwing orange flames like she could control the element itself. A contest to win free tattoos on the spot — with over 75 eager […]
Apocalypse Now? Little more can be said about the atrocities being carried out in Ukraine. They are being led by Russian President Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump’s best pal, who has morphed into a Hitler for our age. Phillipe and Jorge have lived through plenty of what seemed to be scary moments in our own presidency, […]